Highway 103 is an east-west highway in Nova Scotia that runs from Halifax to Yarmouth.
The highway follows a route of 294 km (183 mi) along the province's South Shore region fronting the Atlantic coast. The route parallels its predecessor, local Trunk 3. The highway varies from 2-lane controlled access to 2-lane local secondary roads on the section between Yarmouth and Hebbville. East of Hebbville to Upper Tantallon, the highway is 2-lane controlled access, with the exception of a short 4-lane divided freeway near Chester. From Upper Tantallon (Exit 5), to the interchange with Highway 102 (near Bayers Lake) in Halifax, the highway is 4-lane divided freeway.
In 2013, Highway 103 was redesignated as the Fishermen's Memorial Highway.
The highway has developed sporadically since the 1970s, with the 2-lane controlled access portion to Bridgewater being largely responsible for the abandonment of CN Rail's South Shore line, the former Halifax and Southwestern Railway. In November 2006, construction was completed that twinned 15 kilometers of highway between Exit 3 and Exit 5.
Fishermen's Memorial Highway - June 2013
Barrington Bypass - Barrington to Oak Park, Shelburne County
Nine Mile Road - Sable River to Jordan Falls, Shelburne County
Between 2006 and 2009, there were 29 deaths on the highway. In 2009, it was considered Nova Scotia's deadliest highway and was ranked the second most dangerous highway in Canada by the Canadian Automobile Association. In 2009 alone, ten people died in automobile accidents on the highway, according to the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. Between 2008 and 2012, there were 22 fatalities on the highway.
On May 27, 2007, six people were killed when a car collided with two motorcycles near Blockhouse. It has been considered one of the worst motor vehicle accidents in Nova Scotia's history.
On June 8, 2008, three people were killed in a head-on collision near Tantallon.
On December 14, 2008, two people were killed and four were injured in a head-on collision near Hubbards.
On February 17, 2009, one person was killed in a head-on collision near Hubbards.
On May 30, 2011, one person was killed in a single-motor vehicle accident near Pubnico.
On June 21, 2011, one person was killed in a head-on collision with a tractor trailer carrying 41,000 litres of fuel.
On September 4, 2011, one person was killed in a single-motor vehicle accident near Tantallon.
On October 1, 2011, two people were killed and one was left in critical condition due to a head-on collision that occurred between Exits 7 and 8.
On July 21, 2012, one person was killed in a three-car accident that occurred between Exit 5 and Exit 6.
On November 12, 2012, one person was killed near Liverpool when his car collided head-on with a five-tonne truck.
On December 9, 2012, a 17-year-old male was killed near Clyde River when the vehicle he was in rolled over and he was ejected. The driver suffered minor injuries.
On June 2, 2013, a 40-year-old male was killed near Lunenburg when his car collided with an 18-wheeler.
On July 20, 2013, two people were killed and two others critically injured when an SUV and a minivan collided head-on near Hubbards
On November 27, 2013, one person was killed when a minivan collided head-on with an SUV near Hebbs Cross. Two other people were taken to hospital with serious injuries.
On October 27, 2014, one person was killed when a car collided head-on with a transport truck near Oakhill.
On December 23, 2014, one person was killed and three others were injured when two vehicles collided head-on near Tusket.
On May 3, 2015, two people were killed when both of their vehicles collided head-on near Birchtown.
On October 30, 2015, one person was killed when a small pickup and a 5-ton transport truck collided head-on near Ingramport.
On December 15, 2015, one person was killed in a head-on crash involving three vehicles, between the Cookville and Blockhouse exits.
On February 2, 2017, two people were killed and one person was injured when an SUV collided head-on with a cube van near the recently-opened Ingramport exit.
