Placentia region gets a lift as unique, expensive new bridge officially opens

Vehicle and marine traffic in Placentiawasmoving a little smootherafter the official opening of a new lift bridge that's already become a prominent landmark in the area.

After seven years of planning and design, a price tag of nearly $50 millionand three construction seasons, the new Sir Ambrose Shea Lift Bridge was christened Friday morning with an official motorcade filled with dignitaries, including the town's oldest resident, 104-year-old Mary Drake.

It's the only vertical lift bridge in the province, and the largest to be built in Canada in a very long time.

Itreplaces an adjacent bridge bearing the same name that first opened in 1961, but had long ago reached the end of its design life.

PlacentiaMayor Wayne Power said it's been a long road to this point, with the provincial government issuingthefirst expressions of interest for a new bridge in 2009.

"We've been through five premiers, two tender calls, inconveniences here, we've have the mechanical failure back a couple of years ago, we've been through the construction phase, all those loud noises, and now we've officially opened a new structure here, safe and reliable for all of our residents," said Power.

The bridge spans thePlacentiaGut, and connects the amalgamated communities ofPlacentiaandJerseyside.

The ability to lift the middle span was necessary in order to allow vessels in Northeast Arm to accessPlacentiaBay.

The completion was welcomed with great enthusiasm by area residents, with hundreds of people turning out for the ceremony. Schools were even let out for the occasion, with several people saying this is one of those events you remember for a lifetime.

The province decided to keep same name for the new bridge, with Premier Dwight Ball describing Sir Ambrose Shea as "one of the greatest statesmen in our province."

Shea served as a provincial politician in the 1800s, and was a strong advocate for Confederation with Canada.

"He's one of the most influential politicians of the 19th century," added Mayor Power.

The road to a new bridge wasn't all smooth sailing, however, and was characterized by cost overruns, delays, and even worrying screeching noises as the bridge was being tested in recent weeks.

But that was all forgotten on Friday, with plenty of credit being offered to people like former Placentiamayor Bill Hogan, and Felix Collins, the former PC MHA who championed the project while in office.

"The bridge is the glue that bonds Placentia together, and without the bridge there's no Placentia," said Collins, who acknowledged that even some of his former PC colleagues were reluctant to support such a costly project.

"It's a lot of money to spend for a bridge, but there had to be a bridge," he said, adding it had to be a lift bridge.

• Cost of Placentia bridge nearly 20 per cent higher than contracted