Back in service soon
Englishtown ferry waiting for Transport Canada inspection
The Englishtown ferry could be back in service as early as next week, if recent upgrades and repairs get approval from the federal government.
“Construction work is now complete,” Marla MacInnis, a spokesperson for the province, told the Cape Breton Post.
“We will be running checks of the ferry over the next week and hope to begin normal operations within the first week of September, pending a Transport Canada inspection.”
In January, the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal pulled the Torquil MacLean out of the water so that slips could be replaced on both sides of St. Anns Channel.
John Majchrowicz, manager of marine services for the department of transportation, told the Cape Breton Post in a 2017 interview that the concrete slips started to move due to the currents and tides around the ferry crossing area.
“What has happened over the years is the slip has started to disintegrate and start moving its angle downward.”
The disintegration of the slips had reached a point where rebar has become exposed in some areas.
“We were having to cut the rebar off, so now you don’t even have a catalyst in there to spider everything together.”
Besides the safety issue, the previous condition of those slips made it difficult to properly land the ferry. That had particularly impacted buses, campers and trucks with longer overhangs.
The upgrades to the Torquil MacLean’s launching and landing points in Englishtown and Jersey Cove were originally expected to stretch through until April 1.
However, challenges occurred onsite, according to the province, including ice flow damaging the coffer dam, causing two delays to the anticipated completion date.
While the ferry was out of service, a retrofit and general maintenance to the boat was also completed.
The final cost of the project is estimated to be $3.2 million.
“We are looking forward to the ferry’s return to service and apologize for the impact delays had on prospective passengers and businesses in the area,” MacInnis stated.
“Safety is our top priority and this work was necessary for the continued safe operation of this service.”