Innovative Approach to Port Clyde Bridge

Residents of the Port Clyde area on the Lighthouse Route (Route 309) will have their new bridge in place sooner than anticipated.

The Department of Transportation and Public Works has reached an agreement with Saltech Atlantic Ltd. to build a new bridge that is expected to be in place in the fall. Instead of the traditional steel truss bridge, the Port Clyde replacement will be a long-lasting fibreglass wrapped deck.

"The Port Clyde bridge will have an innovative decking system that will reduce construction costs and even more importantly for residents, reduce the amount of time a detour will be in place," said Ron Russell, Minister of Transportation and Public Works. "Cheaper, faster, longer lasting -- what's not to like?"

The bulk of the bridge will be built at Saltech's Dartmouth site, transported to the Port Clyde site and erected in sections.

The new bridge will span the river without the need for in-water piers. This reduces environmental concerns. The bridge's fibreglass wrapped deck will provide added protection against road salt and require less maintenance than a traditional bridge. Cost of the replacement will be $2.1 million as opposed to the cost of a traditional bridge, estimated at more than $3 million.

Traditional bridge construction would require the immediate placement of the panel bridge with a permanent bridge to be built in 2006, taking five months to complete.

Mr. Russell said his department will be consulting with the local community, including organizations like the fire department, about the best time to schedule a two-month closure while the new bridge is constructed on site.

Saltech Atlantic approached the department's engineers with its innovative approach to bridge building. An agreement was reached once it was confirmed that the project was cost-effective and would save a considerable amount of construction time.

The existing bridge at Port Clyde was built in the early 1890s. It is below standard and had to be closed for repairs in November 2004. Since then, the bridge has been closed to large truck traffic.