Hundred year old bridges need attention: Deputy Transport Minister

HALIFAX – Nova Scotia has a lot of old bridges — most of them built in the early 20th century.

Deputy Minister of Transportation, Paul LaFleche, said at public accounts meeting today that they’re looking at the province’s deteriorating bridges and deciding in the next few years, which ones need repairs, and which ones should be closed.

“Many of our bridges were established in an era just after Confederation, and again after the Second World War, ” he said. “That’s one reason we have so many bridges for a province of our size, and why so many are coming due for significant repair or replacement.”

LaFleche said he has a strong commitment to ensuring road safety, and, with so many bridges in such poor condition, that’s going to be a main priority when going through the list of the province’s 4,300 bridge structures.

He said they’ve put aside $37 million in this year’s budget for bridge maintenance — not including what it would cost to replace a bridge.

The biggest bridge projects being looked at are the Indian Sluice Bridge in Yarmouth, the Sydney River Bridge and the Shubenacadie Bridge.

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