The Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure is going to look at using tolls to pay for twinned highways in the province but don't expect the work to start any time soon.

Transportation Minister Geoff MacLellan﻿ said he's asked his department to conduct a feasibility study on twinning Nova Scotia highways. He said once that's complete, the department will hold meetings in affected communities to gauge their opinion.

The minister would not put a timeline on the studies or public consultation but says he's hearing from people around the province who want to discuss the issue.

"At the end of the day, the safest option, the best thing we can do is to enhance the twinning options and the twinning infrastructure we have in the province," MacLellan said.

His comments come as his department released road safety studies on parts of the three major roadways.

"People should feel these highways are safe," MacLellan said.

Father of victim says Highway 103 unsafe

"However, we asked consultants to take an in-depth, focused look at these sections of highway and provide recommendations to make the roads even safer."

Bruce Heatherington, whose 33-year-old son Jamie died on Highway 103 in 2008, doesn't feel the 103 is safe.

He's lobbied for years twinning on the highway, especially between exits 5 and 6 where his son and others have died.

"What the government announced today was more studies. It's going to go on and on and on and more people are going to get killed, " Heatherington said.

He said 8,800 people have signed a petition calling for twinning and said he would have no problem paying $4 to save a life.

"The longer they let it go, the more it''s going to cost and more people are going to die," Heatherington said.

The highway reviews identified short and medium term improvement plans until twinning can take place.

Recommendations include improved signs, pavement markings, grading, speed enforcement and improved winter maintenance.