Leitches Creek Railroad Bridge to be Replaced

TRANSPORTATION/PUBLIC WORKS--Leitches Creek Railroad Bridge to be Replaced

Another new bridge in Cape Breton will make driving easier for motorists in Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

A tender was advertised this week for work replacing the Leitches Creek railroad bridge on Route 305 Seaview Drive, part of the province's $50 million single-lane steel truss bridge replacement program.

"We know how important this bridge is to the community, and the province is moving forward on replacing it," said Ron Russell, Minister of Transportation and Public Works. "Our goal is to build the best transportation network possible for Nova Scotians."

A panel bridge has been used by motorists since 2001 when the railroad bridge was taken out of service. The new bridge is expected to be completed by Sept. 30.

About $9 million will be spent on steel truss bridges this year, part of a five-year, $50-million program to replace about 66 structures across the province.

Overall, the department will spend $34.5 million on its bridges this year.

The Department of Transportation and Public Works highways division manages more than 23,000 kilometres of roads in Nova Scotia. It maintains an inventory of 4,100 bridges and operates seven provincial ferries. Staff provide services from district offices located in Bridgewater, Bedford, Truro and Sydney.

Government spent $88.5 million on major road and bridge construction projects in Cape Breton over the last five years. Cape Breton's share of the provincial capital highway expenditures increased by more than five per cent during the same time period.