The Cape Breton Highlands National Park is a major tourist attraction, visited by 175,000 people each year. Approximately one third of the Cabot Trail runs through the park, making this route a crucial link for visitors and residents of local communities.

The striking landscape of this area is often beset by extreme weather that presents special challenges for infrastructure maintenance and renewal. The Effies Brook Bridge, Halfway Brook Bridge, Still Brook Bridge, and North Aspy River North Bridge were identified as requiring rehabilitation due to their age and the aggressive environmental conditions in the region.

SHM Canada was selected by Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) to provide stage-wide services to rehabilitate the four bridges. The stages included carrying out a detailed inspection of all bridges, preparing an inspection report recommending various repairs and upgrades, preparing a conceptual design report, and recommending a preferred design option. The contract was completed on schedule, and the client praised our innovation in rehabilitation design and selection of materials.