Skip to content

New Trans-Canada Highway bridge open to traffic

The newly constructed Nipigon River Bridge will be partially opened to traffic on Nov. 28.
pIC2
The newly constructed Nipigon River Bridge will be partially opened to traffic on Nov. 28.

The newly constructed Nipigon River Bridge will be partially opened to traffic on Nov. 28.

The Ontario government announced the westbound lanes of the $106-million cable-stayed span will open to two-way traffic as the first phase of construction draws to a close.

Work on the eastbound lanes is ongoing as demolition of the existing two-lane bridge continues.

Construction on the bridge began in 2013 with work expected to wrap up in 2017.

The cable-stayed bridge — the first such bridge in Ontario — uses towers to hold up the bridge deck with a series of cables, similar to a suspension bridge.

When completed, the bridge will span 252 metres. The three-tower centre pier rises 51 metres above the bridge deck, which is supported by 66 steel cables anchored to the towers. A pedestrian pathway separated from traffic will allow people to safely walk across the river.

The project is a joint venture between Ontario’s Bot Construction and international construction company Ferrovial Agroman (Bot Ferrovial Nipigon Joint Venture), with the Ministry of Transportation as project owner.

Northern Development and Mines Minister called the bridge a “crown jewel” in the province’s ongoing four-laning of Highway 11-17 between Thunder Bay and Nipigon.

“This project has been a personal goal of mine and I couldn’t be more pleased that our government, through the Northern Highways Program, has been able to make the investments needed to see this major infrastructure project happen.”