Highway 333 in Blind Bay reopens with temporary crossing over washout

Highway 333 is open to traffic again thanks to a temporary, single-lane crossing, but there is no timeline set yet for when the stop-gap measure will be replaced by a new, double-lane fix. 

The section of the road in Blind Bay washed out during the torrential rains of late July. Midway through repairs, another heavy rainstorm undid the progress, but traffic was finally able to start flowing last Friday. 

Halifax Regional councillor Pam Lovelace (Hammonds Plains-St. Margarets) said the reopening was welcome news for some residents of the area, who had — added to their daily commute. 

“I’m hearing relief from people,” Lovelace said. “For people who live in the Blind Bay area but work in Peggy’s Cove, they had to go all the way around and take Highway 103 and then down Peggy’s Cove Road.

Emergency services set vehicles up on the affected side so response times were not significantly impacted, but people were still worried about the road being cut off, Lovelace said.

“Being without the road for four weeks was pretty significant, so everyone is pretty happy its back open again, even though it’s just a temporary measure.”

But the single lane, which is controlled by traffic lights, is not a permanent fix, she said. 

When a permanent replacement does happen, she hopes there is a better idea from the province on a timeline so the municipality can better communicate with residents and emergency services so people can prepare for when the work is underway.