Eureka Mills Bridge Official Opening
The provincial government officially opened the Eureka Mills Bridge Monday, Jan. 9th, with the help of Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston in attendance, as well as MOPC representatives, Balodis Construction and members of the surrounding community.
The 135-year-old bridge was replaced this past summer in just five and a half months. It expanded from one lane to two lanes and has a sidewalk. It was built by local contractor, Balodis Construction.
“Replacing the aging, single-lane Eureka Mills Bridge means that Pictou County now has a safer transportation link for generations,” said Premier Tim Houston. “The new sidewalk along the bridge encourages active transportation, allowing runners, walkers and cyclists to safely cross the West Branch East River.”
The original Eureka Mills Bridge, built in 1887, was a 37-metre, single-lane truss bridge. The bridge was closed because it had reached the end of its serviceable life.
The new bridge opened to traffic in December and is a 38-metre, two-lane concrete structure with a sidewalk. It cost about $3.5 million.
About 400 vehicles cross the bridge daily.
"The Municipality of Pictou County is extremely pleased with the construction of a new, modern double-lane bridge in the village of Eureka. In the early days of our history, many communities were built up at key locations on our waterways, a key method of transportation, to turn water wheels and to serve as shipping routes. As communities grew up on both sides of the river, bridges were built to make the community one. Those bridges are gone, but new bridges are essential, not just to unite communities but vital to emergency services, servicing industries and saving time and fuel." - Robert Parker, Warden, Municipality of Pictou County.
Quick Facts:
The new Eureka Mills Bridge has:
26,000 kilograms of reinforcement steel
15 kilometres of reinforcement bars
350 cubic metres of concrete
five concrete girders, each weighing about 62,500 kilograms
In the ribbon-cutting ceremony photo, from the front, left: Devon Balodis, MOPC District 12 Coun. Chester Dewar, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, MOPC Warden Robert Parker and Brandon Balodis.