Most roads in my constituency are owned and maintained by the city, so traffic and other road issues are properly handled by your city councillor.

But there are two stretches of provincial highway for which I am responsible and on which I'm happy to take your calls. Within the coverage area of the Parkview News, the Bicentennial Highway cuts through the middle of Halifax Fairview, from the Highway 103 overpass down to the Bayers Road railway bridge

Recently I met with Department of Transportation officials to review a variety of issues concerning the Bicentennial Highway. The concerns arise from the proximity of the highways to our residential neighbourhoods. Halifax Fairview is where the highway meets the city.

In no particular order, let me review for you some of the issues.

First, engine braking, or "jake brakes", are a constant irritant for residents of School Avenue and its neighbouring streets, and (lower down) on Abbott Drive and its neighbouring streets. The Province is currently working on a "pilot project" to reduce or eliminate the use of jake brakes on the Fairview stretch of the Bicentennial Highway. You should be seeing "no engine braking" signs go up shortly. Down around the Abbott Drive area, the use of jake brakes is actually illegal, since that's already a 50 km/h zone. I have already written to one local company whose trucks have been identified to me as frequent users of jake brakes. That company has been quite receptive to the idea of cutting down on noise.

Second, there are several issues around the provincial right-of-way near Abbott Drive and Elliot Street. I have spoken to DOT about flooding on one section of Abbott Drive, as well as graffiti near Elliot Street and storm-damaged trees on provincial land near Ralston Avenue. They understand the issues and will work with us to find remedies. Recently I delivered a letter to every resident on Abbott Drive with more details

Third, the re-constructed on-ramp/off-ramp from Joseph Howe Drive continues to cause some problems. In particular, I note the concerns of residents along Joseph Howe Drive and Mumford Road that far too many trucks are heading down Mumford from the BiHi off-ramp. Since Mumford traffic is governed by the city, I'll be working with recently re-elected city councillor Russell Walker to see if there's anything we can do to alleviate the problem.

Fourth, I am very concerned about pedestrians crossing the Bicentennial Highway at Pennington or Ralston. For many pedestrians, the nearest legal crossings are at Romans Avenue or Ashburn/Joseph Howe Drive. Both represent (for a pedestrian) a significant detour. That's why many people run across the highway at Ralston or Pennington. There is no crosswalk. A crosswalk would probably be dangerous anyway, since cars are coming at speed around a curve. A pedestrian overpass would be expensive, possibly dangerous in its own way, and impractical for anyone with limited ability to climb stairs. As I told DOT, this area is an accident waiting to happen.

If you have any other "BiHi" issues that aren't listed above, please let me know.