News release

Bridge Birthday Celebrated

Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal (Oct. 2007 - Feb. 2021)

Students at Boularderie Elementary School in Cape Breton got a first-hand history lesson by celebrating the 50th birthday of the Seal Island Bridge today, June 7.

The idea of a commemorative ceremony was suggested by Grace Eyking, a Grade 5 student at the school, who wrote a heritage project about the bridge.

"Grace was really on the ball to come up with this idea," said Bill Estabrooks, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, who is a former history teacher. "These students see this bridge every day out their window and now they'll have a greater understanding of its history."

The bridge, officially known as the Great Bras d'Or Crossing, is visible from the school. It was completed in 1961 at a cost of about $4,652,850. The construction of 23 kilometres of approach roads increased the total cost to about $6-million. It is a crucial link in the Trans Canada Highway between Sydney and Baddeck.

Grace helped the minister unveil new signs that will be placed at each end of the bridge to acknowledge the anniversary and Will Crocker, a bridge engineer with the department, made a brief presentation to the students about bridge building.