Roadwork in St. Margarets Bay causing delays, impacting daycare

Construction on Halifax roads is causing problems for school drop offs and pick ups.

Traffic delays caused by construction continue to impact those travelling on the St. Margarets Bay Road connecting Halifax and Tantallon.

A daycare close to the construction has felt the impact of the work.

“I had eight kids that were almost an hour late going to school so that’s affecting them,” said Lauren Johnston, assistant director of Giant Steps Children’s Centre French Village.

“They’re frustrated. They’re tired.”

The daycare provides programs before, during and after school to 160 children ages four to 12. Pickups and drop offs are normally easy, but the roadwork has slowed things down.

“It’s a bit of trying time,” said Johnston. “Navigating, how to get our staff to get their lunch breaks on time, to get them back here so we can go pick the kids up from school.”

She said delays caused by overlapping provincial and municipal paving projects are “poking holes” in some of their programs.

Halifax Regional Municipality said drivers should expect delays in the area and seek alternate routes where possible in a Friday announcement.

“This is to facilitate the final portion of repaving work in the area, scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 15 (weather permitting), followed by line painting and other less disruptive work the following week,” said the Halifax Regional Public Affairs Office in an email to CTV Atlantic. “This road repair work supports the 2021-25 Regional Council Strategic Priorities Plan to establish a safe and accessible integrated mobility network.”

Johnston said the delays are impacting their bottom line.

“We are having to pay our staff overtime in the sense that they may be late,” she said. “They may not get a lunch break because they are sitting in traffic for an hour, sometimes an hour and twenty minutes.”

Schools in the area are feeling the pain as well. In a statement to CTV News the Halifax Regional Centre for Education said the ongoing roadwork is affecting bus routes.

“We have had 91 delay notifications in the Bay View High Family of Schools since school started because of these construction projects,” said Lindsey Bunin, HRCE communications officer.

The company that runs the school buses also sent a statement to CTV Atlantic addressing the delays.

“Our team is working closely with the Halifax Regional Centre for Education to make thoughtful adjustments that help minimize disruption and keep our students moving safely and on time,” said Jen Holzapfel, Student Transportation of America Senior Director.

The province said they are working with HRM to minimize disruptions and ensure emergency vehicles have the right of way during construction.

“We were able to confirm… they haven’t had any trouble to date,” said Darren Duhl, Halifax Regional Fire District Chief.

The Union representing the Halifax Fire Fighters said the construction is only one area where their members face a growing challenge on the frontlines.

“Across HRM, we continue to see the cumulative impact of narrowed streets, increased congestion, traffic-calming features, and major construction projects — all of which reduce the ability of drivers to safely move out of the way when we respond with lights and sirens,” said Brendan Meagher, Halifax Professional Fire Fighters Association President.

The province said the project on St. Margarets Bay Road should be completed within three weeks.

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