News release

Seal Island Bridge Reconstruction Project Resumes

Transportation and Public Works (to Oct. 2007)

TRANSPORTATION/PUBLIC WORKS--Seal Island Bridge Reconstruction Project Resumes


Starting Wednesday, traffic on the Seal Island Bridge will be restricted to one lane as the second phase of a three-year project to rebuild the bridge deck gets under way.

Work will continue until Oct. 15, with traffic controlled by signal lights. Bridge users can expect delays of five to 10 minutes most of the time.

The bridge will remain open throughout construction, except for occasional half-hour closures late in the evening or overnight while pre-cast panels are placed on the bridge. On those occasions, motorists can expect delays of up to 30 minutes.

In addition, there may be a few overnight closures from midnight to 6 a.m. The bridge reconstruction team will announce these in advance.

Throughout construction, trucks wider than 3.2 metres will be unable to use the bridge. Truckers can get detailed information about load limits from the weigh station at Auld's Cove or by calling 902-747-2004.

The toll-free Seal Island Bridge Info Line, which gives motorists round-the-clock access to information about bridge closings and delays, alternative routes and trucking limits, will be in operation by the end of the week.

Workers will be on the bridge throughout the project. To ensure their safety, motorists should observe speed limits and traffic signals.

Contingency plans are in place to accommodate emergency vehicles during bridge closures.

Allsteel Coatings of Port Hastings won the contract for the $4.8- million second phase. Phase One was completed last November. The overall cost of the bridge deck reconstruction is $13 million.

Built in 1962, the Seal Island Bridge spans the Great Bras d'Or Channel on Trans-Canada Highway 105, in one of Nova Scotia's most challenging highway environments. Four decades of wear, tear and salt spray have taken their toll, creating a need for a new deck. Engineers have thoroughly inspected the rest of the bridge structure and found it to be sound and safe.

The project will result in wider vehicle lanes, new curbs and a modern railing.