Rehabilitation Contract Awarded for Barra Strait Bridge

TRANSPORTATION/PUBLIC WORKS--Rehabilitation Contract Awarded for Barra Strait Bridge

Drivers on the Barra Strait Bridge on Route 223 in Cape Breton County will have many more years of safe crossings thanks to a $557,227 bridge rehabilitation contract announced recently.

The contract was awarded to Allsteel Coatings Ltd. and involves surface preparation and the application of protective coatings on the bridge which carries Route 223 across the Barra Strait between Iona and Grand Narrows.

"Bridges are a vital part of our transportation system," said Ron Russell, Minister of Transportation and Public Works. "Keeping them in top shape is a crucial part of our job."

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