Making the bridge safer and more accessible
The Government of Canada is committed to strengthening the integrity and safety of its bridges.
Today, the Honourable Helena Jaczek, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, announced the completion of the St. Andrews Lock and Dam bridge deck replacement project. Local communities and Indigenous leaders were on site on July 16 and celebrated the reopening of the St. Andrews Lock and Dam in Lockport, Manitoba. The Government of Canada has invested $50 million to extend the overall service life of the facility by another 75 years, while preserving the heritage of the last remaining Caméré-style dam in the world.
With this investment, the bridge is more durable and safer to use. The improved durability, safety and accessibility of the bridge and pathway have also allowed for the increase in load capacity of the bridge, improving the transport of goods and services through the area.
The work included replacing the main span deck with wider traffic lanes, increasing the width of the sidewalk for pedestrians and cyclists, adding accessible ramps on either end of the bridge, and repairing and widening the approach spans and steel support structure to allow for increased load limits.
As part of the Government of Canada's commitment to reconciliation, the contract for this work included an Indigenous participation component that created employment and training opportunities for Indigenous Peoples. This project began in summer 2021, following an Indigenous blessing ceremony and sod turning attended by Indigenous rights holders.
