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

  • Tekla models its BIM software
    January 30, 2015
    More and more design and construction of infrastructure, from buildings and power plants to highways are using building information modelling software. BIM is increasingly the must-have ability for a supply chain and Tekla Structures Construction Modeling software allows concrete contractors to be part of the 3D BIM model.
  • Tekla models its BIM software
    January 6, 2017
    More and more design and construction of infrastructure, from buildings and power plants to highways are using building information modelling software. BIM is increasingly the must-have ability for a supply chain and Tekla Structures Construction Modeling software allows concrete contractors to be part of the 3D BIM model.
  • Versilis and Haas to offer Safety Cloud alerts
    May 4, 2021
    Versilis safety gates are now integrated with Haas Alert’s Safety Cloud, a cellular-V2X (C-V2X) solution that sends real-time digital alerts to drivers approaching work zones.
  • Building Egypt's world class Desert Highway
    February 9, 2012
    A huge highway upgrade project will transform the Cairo-Alexandria road link into a world-class connection as Mike Woof reports