Mother Nature wreaks havoc for islanders
During a powerful storm which knocked power out to 22,286 Nova Scotia Power customers on Nov. 29, residents of Big Island found themselves living the true island life after powerful storm surges broke through a weak spot in the Big Island causeway’s break water.
The nearly 250-yard expanse of pavement and stone was peeled like birch bark and flung into the Merigomish Harbour.
Repairs were underway immediately after, but the main priority was in restoring power to the Island. NSP crews used ATVS to traverse the washout. From there they requisitioned pickup trucks on the Island and used climbing spikes to ascend the wires.
A single-lane road was soon established but it was only passable for light-duty pickup trucks. Some 3,000 tons of material was brought to the site to fill in the cut, and bolster a new breakwater.
“We go through this about once every seven and eight years,” said Big Island resident and photographer Robert Lange. “Maybe we’ll be lucky next year.”