Highway 103 expected to reopen as wildfire continues to burn in southwestern Nova Scotia

As crews conitnue to work on wildfires in Southwestern Nova Scotia, an important roadway is expected to reopen on Monday.

Dave Rockwood with DNRR said on Sunday that highway 103 between Exits 27 and 30 in the Shelburne and Barrington areas would reopen at 10 a.m., but the department of public works now says there is no scheduled time for the road to reopen.

“Highway 103 remains closed at this hour. Timing for reopening to essential traffic is not known. Please do not travel to the area,” the department said in a tweet.

When the roadway does open, Rockwood said there would be no access to roads off the highway in the impacted area.

“Think of it as construction work, you’re going to be escorted through,” explained Dave Rockwood with DNRR. “Every road in that area will have security, most likely a police officer or hired security group, to make sure you cannot leave that roadway.”

Rockwood said being able to reopen the highway is a “little win” that crews have been looking for after a tough week fighting fires, including the massive Barrington Lake fire that was an estimated 24,980 ha at last update and was still considered out of control.

“There’s a lot of business, a lot of industry and just people down here that rely on that road being open and running,” said Rockwood.