East River Bridge (Sheet Harbour)
| East River Bridge | |
|---|---|
 The East River Bridge in 2015, a few days after opening. The old bridge is visible in the background (the green arch). | |
| Coordinates | 44°55′09″N 62°30′55″W / 44.91917°N 62.51528°WCoordinates: 44°55′09″N 62°30′55″W / 44.91917°N 62.51528°W |
| Carries | 2 lanes of Nova Scotia Trunk 7 |
| Crosses | Northeast Arm of Sheet Harbour |
| Locale |
Sheet Harbour, Nova Scotia Watt Section, Nova Scotia |
| Maintained by | Nova Scotia Department of Transportation |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Multi-span |
| Total length | 183 m (600 ft)[1] |
| History | |
| Construction begin | September 2014[1] |
| Opened |
17 December 2015 (for pedestrians 18 December 2015 (for vehicles)[2] |
  | |
The East River Bridge is a multi-span bridge located in Sheet Harbour, Nova Scotia. Construction began in September 2014 and was finished on 17 December 2015, with a bridge walk commemorating the closing of the old East River Bridge and the opening of the new East River Bridge. The old East River Bridge was a green arch bridge with a half through, two-hinge type arch. The old East River Bridge was built in 1956. It is scheduled to be demolished in 2016, with an anticipated completion date of later that year. The new bridge was built because the previous bridge of the same name was over 50 years old and was nearing the end of its life span. It was funded by the federal and provincial governments. The Nova Scotia Government was considering minor repairs to the old bridge, but decided on a new bridge. The new bridge carries Trunk 7 over the Northeast Arm of Sheet Harbour. The old East River Bridge will begin to be demolished in 2016 with an anticipated completion date of later that year.
Old East River Bridge
The old East River Bridge was constructed in 1956 and was nearing the end of its projected life span. It was a green arch bridge that was 213 metres (699 ft) in length, which had a main span of 140 metres (460 ft). It crossed the Northeast Arm of Sheet Harbour, just north of where the new bridge crosses. The arch structure was a half through, two-hinge type arch made up of two steel ribs with a built up box cross section.[3] The structure had engineering ties with the Angus L. MacDonald Bridge in Halifax, Nova Scotia.[2] The deck, which carried the two lanes of Trunk 7, was hung from the arch by vertical steel wide flange shape hangers. It's ribs were reinforced heavily in 1988.[3] It was closed on 17 December 2015, with a bridge walk, which also commemorated the opening of the new East River Bridge.[2]
2014-15 Replacement Project
Background
The old East River Bridge was constructed in 1956 and was nearing the end of its projected life span. The Nova Scotia Government had originally proposed minor repairs for the structure, but they decided that an entirely new bridge would be more cost-effective.[1] The new bridge was designed, unlike the previous one, without overhead steel arches, because it would have cost at least two times more to build.[4] The new bridge was built on the same site as the old bridge's predecessor, which was constructed in 1907.[4]
Construction
The bridge cost CAN $19,000,000 (US $14,671,644) to build and construction began in September 2014.[1] The Nova Scotia Government contributed CAN $11,800,000 (US $9,111,863) toward the project and the Government of Canada also contributed CAN $7,200,000 (US $5,559,781).[2] The contractor, Dexter Construction, poured 2,260 cubic metres of concrete over 650,000 kg (1,430,000 lb) of rebar. The new bridge relies on two pillars set in the granite below the Northeast Arm. When It was near completion, a deck, along with railings and sidewalks, were laid.[4]
There were a few road modifications on the Sheet Harbour of the bridge. Trunk 7 was aligned with what was previously Riverside Drive, which is now nonexistent. Church Point Road and Pool Road, were aligned to the new Trunk 7. The access road to Sheet Harbour Consolidated School and Duncan MacMillan High School was slightly modified. A minor loop, Sprott Lane, was extended along a part of the old Trunk 7 for a few households.[1]
Opening
The bridge was opened on 17 December 2015 with a bridge walk in which the residents of Sheet Harbour walked the old bridge, to close it, then walked back the new bridge, to open it. It was then opened for pedestrians that day and it was open to traffic the next day.[2] The new bridge has a projected lifespan of around 75 years, which means it will last almost in to the 22nd century.[2] The new bridge is two metres (6.6 ft.) wider than the old bridge and it has a sidewalk, which connects to Sheet Harbour's current sidewalk system.[5] Officials hope this will encourage active transportation.[2]
Old East River Bridge demolition
The old East River Bridge was closed immediately after the bridge walk. The old bridge is currently being demolished. Demolition is expected to be completed sometime in 2016.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "East River Bridge Replacement Project". Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Sheet Harbour Residents Celebrate New East River Bridge". Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
- 1 2 "East River - Sydney River Arch Bridges, Cape Breton County, NS". Harbourside Engineering Inc. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
- 1 2 3 Beswick, Aaron (18 December 2014). "East River bridge project on track". The Chronicle Herald (Truro, Nova Scotia). Retrieved 2 December 2015.
- ↑ "Grand Opening Sheet Harbour Sidewalk Streetscape Project". Sheet Harbour Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 30 September 2015.