The Ballam Bridge has connected both sides of the Bay of Islands at Riverside Drive in Corner Brook since 1955. The province is planning to build a new bridge about 50 metres upstream and then demolish the old bridge. Photo by Diane Crocker/THE TELEGRAMArticle contentFor 71 years the Ballam Bridge has provided the only means of connecting both sides of the Bay of Islands.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentSpanning the Humber River, the bridge is located in the Riverside Drive area of Corner Brook at the start of Route 440, the North Shore Highway.Article contentArticle contentThe bridge is named for Charles Hubert Ballam, a Canadian union leader and politician from Curling who served as the province’s minister of Labour from 1949 to 1966. Ballam was the ceremonial ribbon-cutter when the bridge opened on Oct. 31, 1955.Article contentArticle contentThe bridge has deteriorated over those 71 years, and the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure is planning to construct a new one and demolish the old one.Article contentThe department recently filed the project for environmental assessment with the Department of Environment, Conservation and Climate Change.Article contentAccording to the project registration, the plan is to construct a new bridge approximately 50 metres upstream of the existing bridge in the area behind the River’s End Motel. It will provide a link from Riverside Drive to Bear Head Road.Article content A Google Earth map is marked with the current location of the Ballam Bridge and the location where a new bridge will be constructed. GOOGLE MAPS/DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTUREArticle contentThe new bridge will be a single span, 68-m long steel girder bridge with a concrete deck and abutments and will be on piles that will be completely out of the water.Article contentThe existing bridge is a 61-m long, three-span continuous concrete rectangular-variable depth girder bridge on concrete abutments, wingwalls and shallow foundations. There are two piers in the river, and the width of the existing travel way is 7.3 m.Article contentArticle contentThe existing bridge will remain open to traffic during construction of the new structure and will be demolished after.Article contentThe contractor will submit a demolition plan for review and approval prior to commencing demolition work. The demolition and removal of the existing bridge will be carried out so that no significant debris enters the river.Article contentThe ecoregion around the old and new bridge sites is home to such mammals as moose, snowshoe hare, otter, mink, black bear, red fox, beaver and lynx.Article contentThe Humber River is designated as a scheduled salmon fiver that flows into the Bay of Islands.Article contentIn addition to Atlantic salmon, the river is also home to brook trout, arctic char and rainbow smelt.Article contentThe region is also the habitat for many birds and includes a mix of deciduous and coniferous trees and other herbaceous plants.Article content The Ballam Bridge will remain open to traffic while a new bridge is constructed that will go across the Humber River from Riverside Drive to Bear Head Road. Photo by Diane Crocker/THE TELEGRAMArticle contentThe Department of Transportation and Infrastructure will consult with the Department of Environment’s water resources management division to ensure that the best available data is utilized in the design of the bridge.Article contentIt will also consult with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans so that the bridge is designed and constructed to have increased flow capacity and minimal impact on fish and fish habitat.Article contentThe public will also have an opportunity to comment on the project by emailing the department at EAProjectComments@gov.nl.ca. The deadline for comments is Sept. 11. Ministerial approval of the environmental assessment is due by Sept. 21.Article contentA tender call could take place in the fall with construction to start shortly after. The new bridge is expected to be completed by July 31, 2028.Article content The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure has registered its project plan to replace the Ballam Bridge in Corner Brook for an environmental assessment. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTUREArticle content
Province to replace aging Ballam Bridge in Corner Brook
