Canso Canal reopens for vessel traffic
Numbers down last year due to problems with swing bridge
Repairs and subsequent unforeseen problems with the Canso Causeway’s swing bridge resulted in a significant decrease in vessel traffic through the Canso Canal last season.
The canal, which allows for ships to pass through the Strait of Canso has reopened for operations. It had closed to vessel traffic for the season on Dec. 24.
In an email to the Cape Breton Post, the Marine Region of Fisheries and Oceans Canada indicated that 2017 numbers show that the canal saw 1,058-ship passages carrying more than 268,440 tonnes of cargo, the bulk of which included sand, coal, and gravel.
“Due to planned, scheduled maintenance at Canso Canal which is operated by DFO/Coast Guard vessel transit operations commenced one month later than normal,” the department indicated in an email. “The Canso Causeway swing bridge which is operated by Nova Scotia Transport Infrastructure Renewal had significant mechanical issues which resulted in various delays, regarding vessel transit requests through the Canso Canal. Due to these factors there was an overall decrease in vessel traffic.”
According to the Canadian Coast Guard website, which was last updated in 2015, an average of 2,069 ships, with an average gross tonnage of 1,878,480 tons, pass through the Canso Canal each year.
“The Canso Canal experienced a decline in vessel transit volume in 2017 compared to the previous season, due in large part to the number of unexpected repairs and testing performed on the vehicle/train swing bridge and associated infrastructure which spans the canal,” the email reads.
There were several lengthy traffic snarls at the Canso Causeway last summer as problems were encountered in opening and closing the swing bridge to marine traffic. The bridge had undergone a major retrofit beginning last winter, including structural steel repairs, repairs to mechanical and electrical systems, removal of the control cabin above the traffic lanes and construction of a new building for operators adjacent to the bridge. The canal had reopened to marine traffic last
May 15 with operators situated in a new building and operating the bridge from a computer.
The number of disruptions petered off toward the end of the season.
In 2014, the federal government turned over control of the Canso Causeway to the province, committing $9 million to repair the link. The federal government retains control of the canal.
At the peak of the season, the bridge opens on average about 25 times a day. The road link serves an average of about 8,120 vehicles a day. Marine traffic has the right of way.
Earlier this year the federal government
issued a tender to study why the walls of the Canso Canal are moving and to look at both short and long-term solutions to deal with the issue.
The contract has been awarded to SHM Canada Consulting Ltd. Of Halifax, at a value of $128,700, following a competitive tender bid process. That company, which has a concentration on civil and structural engineering with special focus on bridges and marine structures, has previously completed several other projects at the canal and swing bridge.
The project is intended to investigate and determine the cause of movements of the Canso Canal walls, propose short-term solutions to stabilize the walls, and recommend long-term solutions to ensure dependable continued operation of the facility. The project will also establish baseline measurements and a monitoring program with a methodology to assess future wall movements to ensure continued safe operation of the facility.
The movement was discovered as what is called lifestyle restoration work was taking place.
This wall study will not affect regular operations of the canal.