Work Begins on Seal Island Bridge

Construction work on the Seal Island Bridge begins today, Sept. 4, as crews prepare to replace the deck on the 40-year-old structure.

The first phase of the deck replacement project is expected to last until mid-November as workers from Allsteel Coatings from Port Hood remove and replace the deck on the western end of the span.

One lane of traffic will be maintained on the bridge at all times except for three early morning closures each week between midnight and 6 a.m. The closures will allow crews to install new pre-cast concrete deck slabs.

The maximum width for all vehicles crossing the bridge will be restricted to 3.2 metres during construction and vehicle travel will be controlled by traffic signals.

There will be no overnight closures during Celtic Colours, the international music festival that runs annually in Cape Breton from Oct. 5 to Oct.13.

Advance notices of closures will be advertised in newspapers and on radio. As well, a Web site linked to the Department of Transportation and Public Works home page, www.gov.ns.ca/tran/home/index.stm , will post up-to-date details of closures.

The Seal Island Bridge, also known as Great Bras d'Or Bridge, is on Trans-Canada Highway 105 and connects Kelly's Mountain to Boularderie Island and spans the Great Bras d'Or channel.

The main arch span of the Seal Island Bridge is 150 metres long and the approach spans are 75 metres long.