Westwood Hills residents welcome work on new emergency exit, but want more routes

Source: Nova Scotia - Halifax & Regional News
Date: 2026-10-06 21:06:52.0
Tags: [Nova Scotia, Municipal, Infrastructure, Transportation, Emergency]

Following the devastating 2023 wildfires that forced the evacuation of over 16,000 residents and destroyed more than 150 structures, the Halifax Regional Municipality is set to begin construction in early October on a new emergency-only exit connecting the Westwood Hills subdivision to Highway 103. Commissioned staff reports and municipal plans are also evaluating additional connector roads linking Westwood Hills, Upper Hammonds Plains, and Highland Park North to improve regional emergency egress and transportation connectivity. Local residents and community groups, including the Westwood Hills Residents Association and Pockwock Corridor SAFE, have expressed ongoing reservations regarding the specific placement of the gated emergency exit and the reliance on roads feeding into Hammonds Plains Road without alternative routes toward Highway 101. The municipality is currently gathering public input on the proposed connector roads through an online survey and in-person engagement sessions scheduled for October 7 at the Upper Hammonds Plains Community Centre and October 15 at the Tantallon Public Library.