BOULARDERIE, N.S. — Two-way traffic has returned on Hwy. 105’s Seal Island Bridge with the completion of Phase 1 of a three-year project to replace the deck on Nova Scotia’s largest bridge.

The two-and-a-half month job required single-lane traffic and occasional overnight closures since the beginning of September. Workers installed pre-cast concrete deck slabs and performed other repairs on the Cape Breton route.

“I want to thank the project team for a successful start to this important project,” says Ron Russell, Minister of Transportation and Public Works. “It takes a great deal of cooperation and skill to keep the bridge open while ensuring that the work is done on time and in a safe way. The many comments and suggestions we received from bridge users helped the project team ensure that the public’s needs were understood and met.”

Russell also thanked the residents for their patience and assured the project team would be counting on that same patience next year when the project moves into phase two.

The Seal Island Bridge is a 40-year-old structure that spans the Great Bras D’Or channel and connects Kelly’s Mountain to Boularderie Island. The entire deck replacement project is estimated to cost $14 million, including $1.7 million for the recently completed phase.