Keltic Road Rehabilitation Project – Public comments invited from May 3 to June 3, 2024

May 3, 2024 – Parks Canada must decide whether the proposed Keltic Road Rehabilitation Project, located in Cape Breton Highlands National Park is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. Parks Canada will be assessing this project using a Detailed Impact Assessment.

To help inform this decision, Parks Canada is issuing this notice of intent to make a determination and inviting comments from the public on the project's potential effects on the environment as the public consultation for this proposal. All comments received will be considered public. For more information on the public nature of your comments, individuals should consult the Privacy Notice on the Registry website.

In order to submit comments or request a copy of the draft Detailed Impact Assessment report, contact:

Cape Breton Highlands National Park 
cbinfo@pc.gc.ca
37639 Cabot Trail
Ingonish Beach, Nova Scotia B0C 1L0
902-224-2306

Comments must be submitted by June 3, 2024.

Project Summary:

The project proposes to rehabilitate Keltic Road in Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Proposed works include the inland realignment of the Keltic In Road away from the coastal zone to address safety concerns caused by coastal erosion, and upgrades to aging infrastructure, including water and electrical systems. The existing portion of the Keltic In Road will be restored to a natural state in the future. Improvements to the existing conditions of the Keltic Out Road, such as repaving and installation of new culverts, are also being considered. The project will require excavation and tree clearing, which will be scheduled outside of sensitive timing windows for wildlife. Site preparation and construction are expected to begin in summer 2024, with occasional shutdowns throughout the peak season. The expected project completion is July 2026.

Scope of Assessment: The detailed impact assessment assesses the impacts of the proposal on the following valued components: wetlands, amphibians, species at risk: bat populations and habitat, forest birds, cultural resources, and visitor experience.