The Ministry of Transport commissioned the modular bridge over the Sheldrake River yesterday, at the entrance to the MRC Minganie. It allows a return of vehicle passage without any load restrictions on Route 138 since the discovery of a fault on the Touzel bridge.
This new infrastructure will facilitate the transport of goods in Minganie, says the ministry. He thanks the users for the understanding they showed during the work.
The modular bridge, Delta type, has a length of nearly 95 meters and a vehicle width of 7.35 meters. It is one of two modular bridges acquired by the Ministry a few years ago, in order to compensate for road or bridge closures during events linked to emergency measures or works.
6 months of work
Installing a modular bridge is a complex process that requires rigorous work from engineers and specialists. In Sheldrake, field work will have lasted six months. New supports at the ends of the bridge and a diversion path have been installed.
The Sheldrake modular bridge will be used until work to relocate the 138 is carried out. The Ministry of Transport plans to build a new route of almost 7 km which will bypass the village.
Remember that there have been load restrictions on the Touzel bridge for 18 months. A general inspection carried out in May 2023 revealed a crack in the infrastructure. It was then completely closed for 10 days to ensure the safety of road users. Despite the work to strengthen the structure, it was still subject to significant load limits.
