Tolls to remain on N.S. highway for at least another year: Hines

Nova Scotia’s only tolled highway will continue to charge motorists for at least another year according to the province’s transportation minister.

Lloyd Hines says he wants to keep the tolls on the 45-kilometre Cobequid Pass on Highway 104 in order to pay for improvements including a pull-off area for motorists and a maintenance area for road crews and plows.

READ MORE: N.S. Transport Department reviewing closure of busy toll road due to early snow

Hines says a storm last November that forced a temporary shutdown of the highway prompted the decision.

He says that means instead of immediately paying of the remaining portion of debt incurred to build the pass, the province will use money from collected tolls for the highway improvements.

2:14 Out-of-province drivers and truckers may still have to pay Cobequid Pass tolls

The Transportation Department says the province owes about $41 million in current and long-term debt and last year collected about $12-million in net income from toll collection.

READ MORE: Nova Scotia considers lifting toll charge for some motorists at Cobequid Pass

The minister’s decision comes after the government indicated in 2018 that the tolls might be lifted for motorists by the end of 2019 by paying off the debt early.