Bridging the gap

Busy Searletown structure to be replaced in $2.2 million project

SEARLETOWN – The “thuds” will hopefully soon be silenced for Central Bedeque resident David McKenna and his neighbours.

McKenna lives a couple of properties away from Searletown Bridge on Route 10 and grew up in the same area. In the summer of 2018, there was a sizable pothole on the bridge that caused a notable “thud” sound when cars drove over it.

In recent years, McKenna and others have expressed concern about the bridge’s state of repair and have been calling for it to be replaced.

The Department of Transportation has now agreed. It has committed to a $2.2 million project to replace the bridge and realign nearby curves in the road.

“I think it’s unbelievable,” said McKenna in welcoming news of the replacement.

“We’ve wanted it for a long time.”

In fact, McKenna was one of a number of local residents who attended a recent public information session regarding the bridge replacement.

Attendees were given the opportunity to ask questions and learn project details. The work will begin April 29, with a target completion of Aug. 16. During the construction, there will be single lane traffic with stop and go lights.

McKenna also said some residents expressed concern that the redesign will apparently move the road closer to their homes.

One homeowner in particular, who is already close to the road, found out they could lose several more feet of the slim buffer between the house and Route 10.

Neil Lawless, bridge engineer for the project, said they have noted those concerns and are reviewing their plans to try and address as many of them as possible.

“We’re certainly taking that into account.

“We’re going to look at it again here.

But still we have to get it out to tender so we’re in a little bit of a crunch here,” said Lawless.

He added that the plan is to straighten the road to remove at least three bends and to raise the new structure to make it more level with the area’s grade.

The current bridge sits in a hollow.

SOUTH FREETOWN BRIDGE TO BE REPLACED

In addition to replacing the Searltown Bridge this spring/summer, the province will also be replacing a bridge in South Freetown.

The structure is located at the intersection of Route 109 and the Drummond Road.

The work will cost about $650,000.

Construction will start June 24 with a target completion of Aug. 2.

There will be a detour in place during the replacement process.