Historically the Bedford Highway was part of the route from Halifax to Windsor, but also formed the first stage of a journey to Truro, with Sackville's Twelve Mile House staging inn marking the start of the Truro road.[2] The never-completed Annapolis Road also began on the Bedford Highway, at today's intersection with Kearney Lake Road, which is believed to partly follow the alignment of the early road.[3]
In 1970, Halifax ended their original terminus of Nova Scotia Highway 1 via Barrington Street, Quinpool Road, Robie Street, Spring Garden Road, Joseph Howe and Bayers Road to Main Road (renamed Bedford Highway in 1977) following the opening of The MacKay Bridge. The Concurrent Highway in Halifax ended Days Before the open of the new bridge.
In 1977, the whole main road was renamed Bedford Highway.
^Sanders, Mike; Beanlands, Sara (August 2009). "Highway 113 Archaeological Assessment"(PDF). Nova Scotia Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. Retrieved December 29, 2010.