Province Awards Bridge-Replacement Contract in Halifax County

Two bridges in Halifax County will continue to provide safe, dependable service thanks to a bridge-replacement contract awarded by the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Public Works.

The $1,258,485 contract, awarded to Dexter Construction, is for the replacement of the Bergman Bridge on Trunk 1 about 1.3 kilometres east of the Hants-Halifax county line. Also being replaced is the Quoddy Bridge on Trunk 7 about 20 kilometres east of Sheet Harbour.

Work on the Bergman Bridge is already underway and is scheduled to be finished by the end of September. Work on the Quoddy Bridge will start after that.

In both cases traffic will be accommodated by a one-lane, temporary crossing controlled by traffic lights.

"Bridges are an important element of the province's highway system," said Michael Baker, acting Minister of Transportation and Public Works. "This project is one of several bridge replacements scheduled for 2005-06."

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 district offices in Bridgewater, Bedford, Truro and Sydney.