Nova Scotia no doubt appreciates the kind words Gov. Angus King has regarding Halifax’s bid to become a superport for supersized cargo ships. Maine should expect no less than that level of moral support from the Maritimes regarding its big project — the east-west highway. It also should expect no more.

Halifax is one of three finalists, along with New York/New Jersey and Baltimore, under consideration by the consortium Maersk/Sealand as the East Coast terminal for megaships, the new breed of 1,100-foot container vessels. Halifax meets one key criteria the others do not — deep water — but it lags on two others — proximity to major markets and modern land transportation links.

That, of course, is where Maine comes in. Maine lies between Nova Scotia and the population/manufacturing centers of the East Coast and Maine is where traffic would slow to a crawl. True, the state finally is starting to recognize the need to rebuild its freight rail lines, it is moving a modern highway from wishful thinking to actual planning, but the results may come too late to help Halifax. The permitting process for the scope of dredging needed by the other contenders is slow, but Maine’s awakening to the realities of transportation is even slower. The smart money at this point has to be on New York/ New Jersey or Baltimore.

The governor is correct that a victory by Halifax, or even a split decision with New York/New Jersey, is a win for Maine. Its ports — Eastport, Mack Point, Portland — would be well situated as coastal-traffic feeders for the megaships. Portland, with rail and highway, would be the big winner. Mack Point, with rail, less so. Eastport — no rail, no roads, no nothing.

Which is why the governor’s other transportation-related remarks on his Nova Scotia trade mission are encouraging and troubling at the same time. His statements supporting the East-West Highway grow increasingly unequivocal; his suggestion that Canada chip in remains unlikely.

In theory, it may make sense that Canada should help pay for a highway that would cross Maine to connect its Maritime provinces with Quebec and beyond. In the real world of politics, it is fanciful. Especially when the nation being asked has a currency in trouble, staggering deficits, a secession movement that won’t go away and a population highly displeased about reductions in long-cherished social programs. If Gov. King is to find a Canadian politician to be his ally on this one, he’ll have to find one brave MP.

The most troubling aspect of the Canadian-funding idea is that it creates a condition so difficult to meet that it creates a built-in excuse for inaction. Cross-border funding, possible under the terms of the North American Free Trade Agreement, should be pursued but not allowed to hold things up.

Rather than count on Ottawa, highway backers should look to Washington. An east-west highway isn’t just for Maine, the Maritimes and Quebec. Northern New England and the upper Midwest would benefit considerably. A concerted effort by the congressional delegations of eight or 10 states should be able to shake loose enough federal dollars to make the project affordable, especially if augmented by modest tolls. Building a modern transportation system from scratch is a daunting task. No doubt Nova Scotia wishes Maine the best of luck.