Truro Heights Pedestrian Bridge
Location: Truro, NS
Client: Municipality of the County of Colchester
Duration: 2015
Approximate Value: $1.2 M
Key Staff: Wade Pottie, Robbie Fraser
Project Description
In 2011, as part of Colchester County’s active transportation initiative, funding was earmarked for the development of an overpass project and multi-use trail. By 2015, a pedestrian bridge was planned for construction beside the overpass at Exit 13. This would join two major service areas that otherwise require pedestrians to cross the busy highway on foot.
The Truro Heights Pedestrian Bridge is now a single span, 45m long, single box girder bridge supported on fully integral abutments founded on steel piles driven to refusal in bedrock. The bridge spans over Highway 102 and forms a vital part of the new pedestrian trail linking Truro Heights to the recently constructed Rath Eastlink Community Center.
Harbourside’s Role
Harbourside Engineering Consultants (HEC) provided the structural bridge design services for this project as well as site inspection services during construction of the bridge. HEC also developed the innovative girder erection method which mitigated the amount of disruption to commuters on Highway 102 below. HEC’s erection method included casting the center portion of the concrete bridge deck onto the steel box girder prior to delivering the girder to site and completing a double crane lift from the adjacent McClure Mills Interchange Structure. The girder erection was completed during a 20-minute full closure to Highway 102 below, early on a Sunday morning, to minimize the disruption to the travelling public. Following erection of the girder, the remainder of the concrete deck and concrete barriers were cast during single lane closures and no additional full road closures on Highway 102 were required to complete the project.
Unique Challenges
As with many major road construction projects, mitigating the impact it has on traffic is crucial. Using innovative construction technique, lane closures were kept to a minimum. Requiring only one 20-minute window for the full closure was an impressive feat. This minimized traffic disruptions and ensured that construction wrapped up quickly and efficiently.
Social Impact
The greatest impact this bridge has is on active transportation throughout Truro. Connecting two major service areas over a busy stretch of highway also connected these areas to 1.2 km of multi-use trails. This is of considerable benefit to pedestrians, cyclists, and general active transportation.
