Seal Island Bridge
The Seal Island Bridge is a Canadian bridge located in Victoria County, Nova Scotia.
It is an arch truss design and crosses the Great Bras d'Or channel of Bras d'Or Lake, connecting Boularderie Island on the south side with Cape Breton Island on the north side.
With the third longest bridge span in the province, the Seal Island Bridge opened in 1961 as part of the Trans-Canada Highway project. The structure carries 2 traffic lanes of Highway 105 and used to have a sidewalk on each side. During its last renovation however, the roadway was widened and the sidewalks removed. There is now a "No pedestrian traffic" sign on each end of the bridge.
The bridge crosses part of the channel on a causeway connecting the north shore of the channel to Seal Island, a small wooded island. It consists of eight steel truss spans: a main arch of 152 m (500 ft), two side spans of 106 m (350 ft), and five approach spans of 76 m (250 ft).[1]
[edit] Controversy
The location of the bridge has proven extremely controversial. It replaced two ferry services crossing the Great Bras d'Or; one at the northeastern end between New Campbellton-Big Bras d'Or, and the other at the southwestern end at Big Harbour-Ross Ferry.
For political reasons, it was decided to place the bridge halfway between the two ferry services on account of an outcry by communities fearing the loss of their transportation links. Unfortunately to do this required a massive modification to the Trans-Canada Highway route on the eastern slope of Kelly's Mountain (240 m (790 ft) high), resulting in a 180° "switchback".
A safer alternative to continue the highway further east on a gradual descent of Kelly's Mountain toward New Campbellton, crossing at the northern end of the Great Bras d'Or channel was rejected. Likewise, a route between Beinn Bhreagh and Kempt Head at the extreme southwestern end of the channel (much wider waterway but avoiding Kelly's Mountain altogether) was never considered.[citation needed] Numerous deaths at the switchback have occurred over the years as a result of perceived political interference in choosing the route.
[edit] References
- ^ Project of the Month: September 2002 - Seal Island Precast Concrete Bridge Deck Replacement, Cape Breton, NS, Canadian Precast Prestressed Concrete Institute
[edit] External links
Coordinates: 46°14′2.84″N 60°29′32.78″W / 46.2341222°N 60.4924389°W
