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KINGSTON — A unique modular bridge, designed by , has been functioning as a conduit for vehicular traffic and marine vessels following the demolition of a bascule bridge at the LaSalle Causeway in Kingston, Ont.

(PSPC), the causeway’s owner and operator, selected the modular steel bridge in part because the design of the structure would also allow for its periodic removal and reinstallation to open the navigation channel.

As recently as Nov. 16 the marine navigation channel was opened by contractor , which removed the modular bridge in the morning and reinstalled it at night.

This was accomplished by jacking the bridge off its bearings onto a barge, which was then moved away from the navigation channel. To reinstall the structure, the process was reversed, and the crossing reopened for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists, a release from Acrow reads.

The LaSalle Causeway was closed in early April. On March 30, part of the Bascule Bridge was damaged during a construction project to rehabilitate certain components. A diagonal steel truss element that supports the counterweight was seriously damaged.

Further analysis found key elements of structure were considerably displaced and misaligned, which could significantly reduce the life of the bridge, leading to the decision to demolish and remove the entire structure.

Priestly was awarded a $1.7 million contract for the immediate demolition and removal of the bridge structure in June. Then it was decided installing a temporary modular bridge could be a short-term solution.

The single-span structure is 48.8 metres long and has a two-lane width of 7.3 metres. A cantilevered footwalk, 1.5 metres wide, separates pedestrians from vehicular traffic, explains the release.

Components began arriving at the site in mid-August, and the bridge was assembled on rollers while the existing abutments were modified to suit the modular structure. The bridge was launched with the assistance of a crane on Sept. 20. It opened to traffic on Oct. 3.

“Acrow’s rugged modular steel bridge proved an ideal solution for this interesting project,” said Betul Oliver, Acrow’s business development manager for eastern Canada, in a statement. “The bridge was easily adapted for this unique and innovative application, which safely maintains the route for vehicles while providing scheduled accommodation for marine vessels.”

According to PSPC, dates for 2025 are being established for bridge removal in order to accommodate marine navigation.