Installing bridge over Clyde River next big step in Cornwall bypass

It won't be long untilsteel girders areinstalled to formthe 140-metre bridge spanning over ClydeRiver, P.E.I.

The province hasbeen preparing for thismajor piece of the Cornwallbypass as work has continuedover the winter months. This particular part of the project will be doneover the next six weeks.

"It is actually the best time to place the girders,"saidStephen Yeo,chief engineer for P.E.I.'sdepartment of transportation.

"Because in winter conditions, obviously, the ground is frozen and that will help with the large cranes to come in, get set up and put everything in place."

Crews have been busyclearing the way for thetwo giant cranes that will be soon installedat the site a fewkilometresaway fromBannockburnRoad.

The steel girders will go over the river between the abutments and the centre pier. Work on the abutments and pierwas complete in the fall.

At an estimated cost of around $8 million, the bridge itself is a pricey piece of the $58 million bypass project.

Final push

The final push of the project will take place duringa busy summer, Yeo said, to finishoff the remainder of the bypass itself.

He expects a tender for the gravel and pavement work to go out soon.

"Gravel placement and paving is the big thing to come this summer," Yeo said.

"The majority of the dirt work or sandstone work is done. Most all the environmental controls are in place.So that's the big thing for this summer."

The new routewill take the Trans-Canada Highway from North River toNew Haven and avoid going through Cornwall.

Yeo expects some very minor disruptions to traffic as some of the connections on the New Haven side are finalized.

The project is still on target for completionin mid-October.

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