Roger Bacon Bridge Replaces Nappan River Span
Residents from Nappan were the first in Nova Scotia to drive over a new bridge with a new name.
The bridge, spanning the Nappan River near Amherst was opened to local traffic today for the first time in more than two years. The $3 million replacement for the Rainbow Bridge has been renamed after Roger Bacon, former local MLA and premier of the province.
Transportation Minister Lloyd Hines said, “We are pleased to rename the bridge after the former premier Roger Bacon who is well know for his contributions to the community and all of Nova Scotia.”
Born in Upper Nappan, Bacon served as premier from 1990 to 1991. He represented Cumberland County as MLA for 23 years. Throughout his career, he was a provincial minister for several departments, including 10 years as minister of agriculture. He was also a municipal councillor for many years.
A formal event to officially celebrate the renaming of the bridge will be held in the spring.
In typical Bacon humour, the former premier said, “I never wanted this. I never asked for any recognition, but it feels very nice. I am deeply honoured. Thank you all. I hope people will be careful driving over me.”
His son, Douglas Bacon, said, “The Bacon family is extremely pleased that the new bridge over the Nappan River will be named after our family patriarch.”
Warden Al Gillis says, “We are pleased the province has bestowed the honour of naming the bridge after a gentleman who has helped shape the history of our municipality and our province. It seems very fitting to mark a lifetime of service with this well-deserved recognition for Mr. Bacon.”
The old Nappan bridge was built in the late 1930s and was closed in December 2017 because of structural issues.
The new bridge is a laminated timber construction, lightweight by comparison to steel or concrete, with a design life of 75 years.
Traffic will be reduced to one lane intermittently over the next couple of weeks to complete some final details on the bridge.
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