Today, Premier Robert Ghiz along with Minister of Transportation and Public Works Ron MacKinley, Alberton - Roseville MLA Pat Murphy, and Tignish - Palmer Road MLA and Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development Neil LeClair cut the ribbon on the brand new Montrose Bridge. The $2.7-million structure improves safety for road users and serves as an excellent example of the province’s commitment to improving rural infrastructure.
“This government remains committed to serving the needs of residents all over Prince Edward Island,” says Premier Robert Ghiz. “We will continue to make investments in rural infrastructure, like the new Montrose Bridge, through our five-year capital plan, to help improve quality of life for Islanders who choose to live in rural communities.”
The final stage of the bridge replacement wrapped up in June of this year. The completion of the project re-opened an important corridor between Tignish and Alberton.
“This government’s new five-year Capital Plan will allow the Department to take on many more projects of this kind,” says Minister of Transportation and Public Works Ron MacKinley. “This year we’ve already begun work on important bridges in Tyne Valley and Dunedin and we look forward to working with other rural communities over the coming months and years. This kind of work is vital to our economy, our livelihood and our way of life.”
The Montrose Bridge was originally constructed in 1948. This project saw the new structure lengthened to help with tidal flow, and widened to improve safety.
BACKGROUNDER
• The Old Montrose Bridge was constructed in 1948. It underwent a major rehabilitation in 1972.
• The bridge was built using creosote timber piles and a concrete deck.
• It was 38 metres long and 8 metres wide.
• The new Montrose Bridge is 52 metres long and 12 metres wide.
• It features a steel box girder superstructure, with a concrete deck, an asphalt wearing surface, and a new concrete sub-structure founded on steel pipe piles.
• The project also included Improvements to the roadway.
• Total project cost was $2.7 million.