Seal Island Bridge: Phase One

TRANSPORTATION/PUBLIC WORKS--Seal Island Bridge: Phase One Completed

It's back to two-lane traffic on the Seal Island Bridge on Highway 105 in Cape Breton.

Allsteel Coatings of Port Hastings has completed work on the first phase of a three-year project to replace the deck on Nova Scotia's third longest bridge. The two-and-a-half-month job required single-lane traffic and occasional overnight closures since early September, while workers installed pre-cast concrete deck slabs and performed other repairs.

"I want to thank the project team for a successful start to this important project," said Ron Russell, Minister of Transportation and Public Works. "It takes a great deal of co-operation and skill to keep the bridge open, while ensuring that the work is done on time, and in a safe way. The many comments and suggestions we received from bridge users helped the project team ensure that the public's needs were understood and met."

"I also want to thank area residents and other drivers for their patience and safe driving during the construction," Mr. Russell said. "We'll be counting on it again next year as we move on to Phase 2. I'm also extremely pleased with the co-operation of local emergency response organizations, who had to make contingency plans during construction."

The toll-free Seal Island Bridge Information Line (1-866-389- 8686) will remain open until Friday, Dec. 7, for bridge users to leave comments and suggestions for next year's phase of the project.

The Seal Island Bridge is a 40-year-old structure that spans the Great Bras d'Or channel and connects Kelly's Mountain to Boularderie Island.

The bridge consists of eight steel truss spans that include a main arch of 152 metres (500 feet); two side spans 106 metres (350 feet) long; and five approach spans, each 76 metres (250 feet). The entire deck replacement project is estimated to cost $14 million, which includes $1.7 million for the first phase.