Hammonds Plains Road is a vital route for many communities in the Halifax Regional Municipality. However, due to the growing population of the communities surrounding Hammonds Plains and Tantallon, its narrow width and single lane nature has allowed it to become a potentially deadly safety risk for residence, as demonstrated by the recent evacuations resulting from wildfires in the area.

The current infrastructure is not suitable for the number of residence and along with the safety risks, it's become increasingly difficult for residents to access their homes and businesses. As such, we urge the Halifax Regional Municipality to widen Hammonds Plains Road and add a third lane to accommodate the safety and accessibility requirements for the growing population.

According to recent studies conducted by the HRM Transportation Department, traffic on Hammonds Plains Road has increased by over 20% in the past decade alone. This increase in traffic has led to longer commute times for residents and an overall decrease in quality of life. Additionally, emergency response times and evacuation requirements have been significantly impacted due to congestion on this critical roadway.

Widening Hammonds Plains Road would create the long overdue safety conditions for all users of the roadway, improve access for residents and provide economic benefits for local businesses. 

We call upon Halifax Regional Municipality officials and decision-makers to prioritize this important project that save lives and benefit so many people who rely on this vital roadway every day.

Sources:
- HRM Transportation Department
- Economic Benefits of Transportation Infrastructure Improvements study
- National Safety Council