Keep an Eye on the Indian Sluice Bridge

Area residents can watch minute-by-minute construction of a new, wider and more efficient transportation link using the newly installed Indian Sluice Bridge webcam.

Nova Scotians can view the progress as the bridge gets built, 24-hours a day, at http://novascotia.ca/tran/highways/isb.asp .

"With the length of the bridge and the tides in the area, constructing a new Indian Sluice Bridge will be a very challenging project," said Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Sterling Belliveau, on behalf of Maurice Smith, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. "Work is already underway on the bridge approaches and a temporary road to the pier locations."

The province announced the $13.5-million contract for the 189-metre, two-lane bridge to Dexter Construction on Nov. 5, 2012.

The contractor is trying a newer construction approach to build the bridge piers known as caissons construction. This method is expected to speed up the project and save money.

Work with the caisson installations is scheduled to begin the week of March 17. The existing bridge will remain in service until the new bridge is complete in the summer of 2014.

Replacing the bridge is part of the province's 5-Year Highway Improvement Plan and the jobsHere economic development plan. The plans create jobs and improve highway infrastructure for residents, visitors, businesses and industries. The plan is available at www.gov.ns.ca/tran.