Seal Island Bridge

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The Seal Island Bridge is an arch truss bridge crossing the Great Bras d'Or channel of Bras d'Or Lake in Victoria County on Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island.

With the third longest bridge span in the province, the Seal Island Bridge opened in 1961 as part of the Trans-Canada Highway project, the structure carries 2 traffic lanes of Highway 105, connecting Boularderie Island to the north side of the channel.

The bridge crosses part of the channel on a causeway connecting the north shore of the channel to Seal Island, a small wooded island. It consists of eight steel truss spans: a main arch of 152 m (500 ft), two side spans of 106 m (350 ft), and five approach spans of 76 m (250 ft).

[edit] Controversy

The location of the bridge has proven extremely controversial. It replaced two ferry services crossing the Great Bras d'Or; one at the northeastern end between New Campbellton-Big Bras d'Or, and the other at the southwestern end at Big Harbour-Ross Ferry.

For political reasons, it was decided to place the bridge halfway between the two ferry services on account of an outcry by communities fearing the loss of their transportation links. Unfortunately to do this required a massive modification to the Trans-Canada Highway route on the eastern slope of Kelly's Mountain, resulting in a 180º "switchback" for a highway descending a 240 m mountain.

A safer alternative to continue the highway further east on a gradual descent toward New Campbellton, crossing at the northern end of the channel was rejected. Numerous deaths at the switchback have occurred over the years as a result of political interference in choosing the route.