Skip to main content

The Sir Ambrose Shea lift bridge wins key award

The Sir Ambrose Shea lift bridge has received a transportation award of merit. The structure was designed by Parsons and has been given the 2017 Transportation Award of Merit from the Consulting Engineers of Ontario (CEO). As sole prime consultant, Parsons also provided project management and engineering services during construction. Located on the Avalon Peninsula in the town of Placentia, NL, the Sir Ambrose Shea Lift Bridge provides a connection while supporting the region’s commercial fishing industry.
April 25, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
The Sir Ambrose Shea lift bridge has received a transportation award of merit. The structure was designed by 3220 Parsons and has been given the 2017 Transportation Award of Merit from the Consulting Engineers of Ontario (CEO). As sole prime consultant, Parsons also provided project management and engineering services during construction.


Located on the Avalon Peninsula in the town of Placentia, NL, the Sir Ambrose Shea Lift Bridge provides a connection while supporting the region’s commercial fishing industry. The bridge is raised approximately 2,400 times/year and is one of the few vertical lift bridges in Canada.

Parsons’ design and detailing of the bridge provided for construction of the substructure, approach spans, and lift-span towers without encroaching on the navigation channel. Disruption of boat navigation through the narrow waterway connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the inner harbour was limited to a few days during construction of the lift span and commissioning of the new bridge.

The link was opened to traffic on September 23rd, 2016 and features two vehicle lanes on each side, as well as pedestrian sidewalks. In addition it carries power and communication utilities. The Sir Ambrose Shea Lift Bridge also received a 2016 Design Award of Excellence from the Quebec Region of the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • It’s in with the new for asphalt plants
    April 4, 2013
    A leading asphalt plant manufacturer is playing a key role in the upgrade of a major European airport, while another is said to have created one of the most modern plants in Europe. Meanwhile, a host of new plants and plant concepts have been, or are about to be, unveiled. Guy Woodford reports Intrame says its ultra-mobile UM-280 asphalt plant has played a key role in the resurfacing of the runway and taxiways at Gatwick Airport in southern England – the busiest single runway airport in the world. Around 35
  • Success of ICOET 2011 event for sustainable roads
    February 23, 2012
    The ICOET 2011 event proved a success for sustainable transportation – *Leonard Sielecki
  • New highway for Jamaica
    July 15, 2016
    A new highway has been constructed on the Caribbean island of Jamaica that will make a dramatic improvement in travel times and road safety for the country
  • Success of ICOET 2011 event for sustainable roads
    April 12, 2012
    The ICOET 2011 event proved a success for sustainable transportation – *Leonard Sielecki With over 500 delegates from 21 countries, the recent 2011 International Conference on Ecology and Transportation (ICOET) held in Seattle, Washington, USA proved a success. Organised and co-sponsored by the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) at North Carolina State University, and co-hosted by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDoT), the five-day conference ran from August 21st-25th