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Nipigon River Bridge opens two lanes

NIPIGON -- Horns sounded and cheers rose into the winter air as the first traffic passed over a completed half of the Nipigon River Bridge after dusk on Sunday.
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The first traffic traveled over the new Nipigon River Bridge at 7 p.m. on Sunday. (Jon Thompson, tbnewswatch.com)

NIPIGON -- Horns sounded and cheers rose into the winter air as the first traffic passed over a completed half of the Nipigon River Bridge after dusk on Sunday.

Construction teams put the finishing touches on three years of work over the weekend to unveil a bridge that will become two westbound lanes on the TransCanada Highway once its mirror image is built by 2017.

Traffic will flow both ways on the new bridge as the old Nipigon River Bridge is slated for a demolition.  

"It really is a significant milestone in terms of the construction of the Nipigon River Bridge, truly the jewel in the crown of our project to four-lane the highway between Thunder Bay and Nipigon," said Thunder Bay-Superior North MPP Michael Gravelle. 

"This $106-million project -- the only cable-stayed bridge in the province of Ontario -- and it's just quite beautiful."

In 2009, Gravelle signed off on the ambitious bridge's construction in 2009 and once completed, it's expected to last 75 years.

Much has been made of unlocking its tourism potential, including a $1-million, 40-foot lookout tower that will be built on the edge of Nipigon.

Gravelle said there is an even higher value in ensuring those traveling through and around the region are more secure.    

"This is really, ultimately about a safe driving experience for people in Northern Ontario -- the people I represent," he said. 

"Ultimately, a four-lane highway and a four-lane bridge, even the way we've set up the pedestrian walkway is truly about improving safety for people. So it's exciting but it's there for a good reason as well." 

 

    

  





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