Seal Island Bridge getting ‘in-depth inspection’

Motorists can expect delays for next six weeks

Engineers will go over every bolt, rivet and weld on the Seal Island Bridge as the aging span undergoes its most thorough inspection in decades.

On Monday, Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal contractors began examining the bridge, which crosses the Great Bras d’Or channel of Bras d’Or Lake between Boularderie Centre and New Harris.

Department of Transportation district director Roy MacDonald said traffic will be reduced to one lane and there will be short-term closures, so motorists can expect delays from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. until the end of November.

“It’s a very systematically laid out, in-depth inspection of every component of the bridge — and that includes everything above the water and the foundations underwater,” he said.

“There would be thousands of components, especially when you get into the steel members and all the bolts and rivets, so essentially a person is going over the entire bridge structure.”

MacDonald said bridge inspections are normally classed in three levels, beginning with an annual cursory overview by a local supervisor “to make sure there was nothing obvious.”

“If there were things there that were obvious, we’d move to a level two, so that gets a bit more detailed depending on the reason why we’re doing the level two, so we’d be looking at those components that were of concern.”

MacDonald said while nothing specific was found during recent inspections of the Seal Island Bridge, the structure’s age warrants a more detailed checkup.

“There’s been nothing specific other than the fact that the bridge is of 1955 vintage. It’s approaching 20 years since we did the last in-depth, level three inspection, so we’ve hired a consultant to do this level three.”

The inspection will take place in two stages. The next six weeks will involve components that workers can see and access from the roadway. That includes up to about 80 feet high from the road deck, an area that an under-bridge inspection vehicle can reach.

In the spring, the underwater portion of the bridge and the higher elevation components of the bridge will be scrutinized.

The inspection will take place in two stages.

The next six weeks will involve components that workers can see and access from the roadway. That includes up to about 80 feet high from the road deck, and areas underneath the bridge that a specialized inspection vehicle can reach.

In the spring, the underwater portion of the bridge and the higher elevation components of the bridge will be inspected.

“It will produce a report, and the report will help us come up with a maintenance and repair plan so that we can ensure that the bridge stays useful and operable well into the future,” said MacDonald.