Nova Scotia Highway 102 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
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| Veterans Memorial Highway (Fall River to Truro) Bicentennial Drive (exit 0 to exit 5) |
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Highway 102 highlighted in red
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| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal | ||||
| Length | 106 km (66 mi) | |||
| Existed | 1949–present | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end | Bayers Road in Halifax | |||
| North end |  Hwy 104 (TCH) in Onslow |
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| Location | ||||
| Counties: | Hants, Colchester, Halifax Regional Municipality, East Hants | |||
| Highway system | ||||
Provincial highways in Nova Scotia
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Highway 102 is a major road in Nova Scotia, Canada. It runs from Halifax in the south to Onslow in the north. Onslow is just north of the town of Truro. This highway is the busiest road in all of Atlantic Canada.
In the year 2000, the part of Highway 102 between Fall River and Truro was given a special name. It became known as the Veterans Memorial Highway. The section between Fall River and Halifax is called Bicentennial Drive or the Bicentennial Highway. People often shorten this to "Bi-Hi".
Contents
History of Highway 102
This highway follows a path similar to an older road called Trunk 2. Highway 102 was built in different steps, starting in 1949 and finishing in the 1970s. At first, some parts had two lanes, while others had four. The road's path changed a bit over time. For example, in the mid-1970s, new sections were built to go around the towns of Shubenacadie and Stewiacke.
Speed Limits Over Time
When the highway first opened, the speed limit was 100 kilometers per hour (about 60 miles per hour). In 1997, the speed limit was increased to 110 kilometers per hour (about 70 miles per hour) for a long section. This faster speed limit applies between the Highway 118 interchange and exit 13A near Millbrook. Other parts of the highway still have the original 100 km/h speed limit.
From the 1970s to the early 1990s, the RCMP used airplanes to check for speeding on Highway 102. This aerial surveillance program started again in 2005.
Oldest Section of the Highway
The very first part of Highway 102, from Bayers Road to Fall River, opened in October 1958. This year was the 200th anniversary (bicentennial) of Nova Scotia's first government meeting in 1758. Because of this, this section was officially named Bicentennial Drive. It is the oldest controlled-access highway in Atlantic Canada.
New Road Connections
Over the years, new connections have been added to Highway 102. In 2001, new ramps were opened to connect the highway to Joseph Howe Drive. These ramps cost $2 million to build.
A new interchange, called Exit 2B, was opened in October 2010. It connects to Larry Uteck Boulevard and cost $24.4 million. This interchange helps serve the fast-growing areas of Bedford South and Bedford West. It uses roundabouts instead of traffic lights to help cars move smoothly.
In 2011, an underpass was built beneath Highway 102. This underpass connects the Fairview neighborhood with the Bayers Lake Industrial Park.
What the Highway is Like
Highway 102 is about 102 kilometers (63 miles) long. It goes through the middle of Nova Scotia. It connects to other important highways like Highway 103, Highway 101, and Highway 118. It also links to Highway 104, which is part of the Trans-Canada Highway.
The entire highway is a divided four-lane freeway. This means it has a barrier or space between the lanes going in opposite directions. There is one special section that has five lanes (three lanes going north). This is between the Highway 118 interchange and an area near the Halifax Stanfield International Airport in Enfield. This extra northbound lane is left over from an older design of the highway.
Parts of Highway 102 south of the Halifax International Airport are known for sudden changes in visibility. This is because of fog caused by changes in elevation.
Main Highway Exits
Here are some of the main exits along Highway 102, listed from south to north:
- Exit 0: Joseph Howe Drive in Halifax.
- Exit 1A: Connects to Highway 103 and Dunbrack Street.
- Exit 2A: Leads to Lacewood Drive and the Bayers Lake Business Park.
- Exit 2B: Larry Uteck Boulevard.
- Exit 3: Hammonds Plains Road in Bedford.
- Exit 4B: Connects to Highway 101.
- Exit 5: Connects to Trunk 2 and Highway 118 in Fall River.
- Exit 6: Leads to the Halifax Stanfield International Airport.
- Exit 7: Connects to Trunk 2 in Enfield.
- Exit 8: Connects to Route 214 in Elmsdale.
- Exit 9: Connects to Trunk 14 and Route 224 near Milford.
- Exit 10: Connects to Route 215 in Shubenacadie.
- Exit 11: Connects to Trunk 2 in Stewiacke.
- Exit 12: Connects to Route 289 and Trunk 2 in Brookfield.
- Exit 13A: Treaty Trail / Tower Road near Millbrook First Nation.
- Exit 14: Connects to Trunk 2 and Route 236 in Truro.
- Exit 15: Connects to Trans-Canada Highway 104 in Onslow. This is the northern end of Highway 102.
