Residents of Tantallon and Hammonds Plains in Halifax are concerned about emergency egress from their subdivisions after the 2023 wildfires, which forced the evacuation of over 16,000 people. The Halifax Regional Municipality is starting work on an emergency exit for Westwood Hills this month but residents have reservations due to the road’s limited use and placement. Additionally, the municipality is considering more connector roads between communities, though some feel these may not be sufficient for future needs.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Residents of Westwood Hills in Halifax are welcoming the start of work on a new emergency exit this month, following the devastating wildfires of 2023 that forced the evacuation of over 16,000 people and destroyed more than 150 structures. The fire highlighted issues with access roads during emergencies, particularly heavy traffic on Hammonds Plains Road, which left many residents stranded. Richard O’Fegan, president of the Westwood Hills Residents Association, is pleased to see action taken but also seeks additional connector roads for safer emergency egress. Halifax Regional Municipality plans public input sessions on October 7 and 15 to discuss more routes.
Written for “Emergency Exit Controversy” on 2026-10-06,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Residents in the Tantallon and Hammonds Plains area of Halifax have been voicing concerns about access roads and emergency egress from the growing subdivisions ever since the devastating wildfires of 2023.
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Residents → voice → 2023
At the time, residents shared stories of being stuck in traffic trying to flee on Hammonds Plains Road, as the sky grew black with smoke.
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sky → share → smoke
The fire forced the evacuation of more than 16,000 people and ultimately destroyed over 150 structures.
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fire → force → structures
Halifax Regional Municipality said this week that work will begin on the emergency exit from the community of Westwood Hills this month, and the municipality is also gathering public input on more connector roads.
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municipality → say → roads
It’s welcome news for Richard O’Fegan, the president of the Westwood Hills Residents Association.
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It → ’ → Association
“It’s good to see that some momentum has taken place.
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momentum → ’ → place
It’s good see some actions have taken place to support our commu-nity,” he said.
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he → ’ → nity
A staff report was commissioned by municipal councillors in the months after the 2023 wildfire, which recommended moving ahead with a new emergency-only connection between the Westwood Hills subdivision and nearby Highway 103.
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which → commission → subdivision
O’Fegan says he has reservations about the placement of the road, and the fact that it will remain locked by a gate when there isn’t an emergency.
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it → say → gate
“It’s difficult for the community to be 100 per cent behind the placement of this and understand the positive impacts it’ll have if we do face a situation similar to what we did in 2023,” he said.
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he → ’ → 2023
As part of the egress project, connector roads between the subdivision and Upper Hammonds Plains as well as Highland Park North are also being considered.
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roads → consider → subdivision
The proposed plan states the purpose of these roads “would be to improve access and egress in case of emergencies, as well as to increase transportation network connectivity between these three communities.”
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purpose → propose → communities
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separatists → see → Plamondon
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Exports → spike → tariffs
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Saskatoon → say → count
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O’Fegan says he feels the placement of the connector roads could cause problems later on.
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placement → say → problems
“All roads pointing to Hammonds Plains doesn’t really seem like the most effective strategy when you’re talking about 880 homes and more, (you’re) talking about a long-term care facility, you’re talking about neighbouring subdivisions,” said O’Fegan.
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O’Fegan → point → subdivisions
Debbie Miller, a member of the neighbourhood group Pockwock Corridor SAFE, says residents want to know if there will be more roads heading in the other direction that lead to Highway 101.
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that → say → Highway
This is maybe step one, depending on what their goals are.
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goals → depend → ?
If their goal is to have more development without better planning, then that’s not going to work,” she said.
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she → have → planning
Residents will have the opportunity to share their thoughts during in-person engagement sessions or take part in an online survey.
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Residents → have → survey
The meetings will be held:
- Wednesday, Oct. 7 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Upper Hammonds Plains Community Centre, 711 Pockwock Road, Upper Hammonds Plains
- Thursday, Oct. 15 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Tantallon Public Library, 3646 Hammonds Plains Road, Upper Tantallon
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meetings → hold → Library
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