80 m Algonquin Modular Bolted Truss Bridge cantilever launched to reconnect Cape Breton community

The village of Mira Gut sits on either side of the Mira River where it meets the ocean on the southeastern shore of Cape Breton Island. An iconic century-old swing bridge had connected the two sides of the community until it had deteriorated to the point that the Nova Scotia Department of Public Works deemed it unsafe in 2017 and it was torn down. As a result, the community was faced with a 20-minute detour to reach the other side.

New galvanized bridge replaced a century-old swing bridge (Inset)

In 2021, Algonquin Bridge was awarded the contract to design and supply an 80 m Modular Bolted Truss Bridge to serve as the permanent replacement. For heavier-duty applications, Algonquin Modular Bolted Truss Bridges use innovative 2.25 m long panels that are bolted to top and bottom chord members to form pre-cambered side trusses that carry the applied loads and counter dead load deflection.

Modular Bolted Truss Bridge was cantilever launched from one side of Mira River
The bridge system was delivered on flatbed trucks, assembled on-site and deployed using the cantilever launch method from one side of the river. Kudos to our other project partners: Northern Contracting Limited as the general contractor, and Leslie & Benn Contracting Ltd. as the bridge erector. It was great working with these teams.

Cantilever launch sequence

Take a 360° drone video tour of this project through assembly, cantilever launch and completion >>

Aesthetic considerations were also an integral part of the overall project. While hot-dip galvanizing certainly ensured the structure would be resilient against corrosion, extending its life and reducing the need for costly maintenance, but it also offered a pristine, matte finish that enhanced the bridge’s features.

Galvanized chosen for aesthetics, durability, sustainability, turn-around time, corrosion performance and life-cycle cost

New bridge opens to great fanfare
On a sunny day in August of 2022, the community gathered to witness and celebrate the opening of their new bridge. Watch this great CTV News Video on the grand opening event featuring: a 94-year-old woman who mused about jumping off of it; “Bridge Man Bob” who manually operated the old swing bridge for passing boats for over 36 years, and; hundreds of residents happy to be reconnected to each other.

Bridge wins 2024 American Galvanizing Association Award
On April 10, the American Galvanizers Association (AGA) announced the winners of the 2024 Excellence in Hot-Dip Galvanizing Awards during their Annual Conference in St. Thomas, USVI. Over 100 projects were submitted, representing various applications for hot-dip galvanizing. The finalists were judged online by a panel comprised of architects and engineers. An Algonquin Modular Bolted Truss Bridge, that reconnected the community of Mira Gut in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, won in the Bridge & Highway category. Read News article about this>