SUTHERLANDS RIVER – Hundreds of people have signed a petition in the Sutherlands River area asking the government to ensure proper tourism signage be erected after the Highway 104 twinning project is complete.
Area residents and retailers along the eastern Sunrise Trail are concerned that they’ll lose business when changes are made to Exit 27.
When the changes were made and other areas of the highway were twinned in the county, said Pictou East MLA Clarrie MacKinnon, many of the businesses experienced a significant loss.
“When the twinning takes place, there’s always a concern for businesses on the old roads – Alma and Green Hill experienced quite a bit of difference in that area when it was twinned,” he said.
MacKinnon wants to see the province take a proactive stance and address the province well before the twinning project is complete next year.
“It’s important we look at this issue now, rather than after the fact,” MacKinnon said. “Proper signage will ensure the Shore Road gets traffic for business in the future.”
In addition to the Sutherlands River, Merigomish and Lismore shore area, Exit 27 serves as an entrance to Little Harbour and Melmerby Beach, MacKinnon added, an important tourism destination in the area.
“Melmerby Beach is a gem in the county that I think has never been properly recognized or sold,” he said. “I believe the signage has to be adequate to direct people to these sites and far enough in advance to get people off the highway.”
MacKinnon says he’s been presented with the multi-page petition and plans to present it in the legislature in the fall.
“It’s calling for what we want – looking at adequate signage to direct traffic to potential tourism sites,” he said.
But before that, a session is being planned in the area on Aug. 27. MacKinnon plans to meet with anyone interested in the issue from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at the Sutherlands River schoolhouse.
“I want input from the community now, before the signage goes up,” MacKinnon said.
Representatives from the Pictou Regional Development Agency and Pictou County Tourist Association along with representatives of Nova Scotia Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal are participating in the workshop, which is designed to allow for maximum input from area residents.
