Additional lane coming to busy exit of Highway 102 in Bedford, N.S.

Highway 102 and the Exit 3 southbound off-ramp to Hammonds Plains Road is pictured in Bedford, N.S. (Province of Nova Scotia)

Work is set to begin Thursday at an often-congested exit on Nova Scotia Highway 102.

An additional lane is coming to the Exit 3 southbound off-ramp to Hammonds Plains Road in Bedford.

The province says the upgrades will improve safety and speed up traffic.

“We have put out a request for a consultant to help us develop the long-term vision for the 102,” said Public Works Minister Fred Tilley in a provincial news release.

“Today, we’re moving on this short-term project to help bring some relief to this busy area faster. We want Nova Scotians to know that while we’re planning for our future transportation system, we’re also committed to making improvements that can help now.”

The existing off-ramp will be widened to extend the separate right and left turning lanes.

The province says the exit will remain open most of the time during construction, though intermittent delays and temporary closures are possible.

Blasting will need to be done to make space for the new lane. That work will begin next week and will take place once a day between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Both the southbound and northbound lanes of the highway before Exit 3 and Hammonds Plains Road near the off-ramp will close for about 10 minutes during the blasting.

Some of the work, such as paving, will take place at night.

Landscape will also be cleared beside the ramp so drivers can see other vehicles more clearly as they move through the exit.

The project is expected to take about six weeks to complete.

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