Sipekne'katik Browns Flat Bridge Construction– Public Comments Invited

May 30, 2023 – Indigenous Services Canada must determine whether the proposed Sipekne'katik Browns Flat Bridge Construction, located in Sipekne'katik First Nation, is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

To help inform this determination, Indigenous Services Canada is inviting comments from the public respecting that determination. All comments received will be considered public and may be posted online.

Written comments must be submitted by June 30, 2023, to:

Indigenous Services Canada – Environment

PO BOX 160

Amherst, NS

B4H 3Z3

paeat-erpat@sac-isc.gc.ca

The Proposed Project

There is a set of large culverts crossing Brown Flats Road in the Sipekne'katik community. Despite their size, these culverts are not sufficient to pass the spring meltwater every year, and overtopping of the road can occur (as well as flooding of the nearby are), which cuts off a residential section of the community from access as there are no alternative routes. This project will construct a bridge immediately adjacent to the current culverts, and then remove the old culverts to restore the stream as close to its natural condition as possible. The project will be designed to meet or exceed a 100-year lifespan on all major components including the bridge. The bridge will feature two travel lanes as well as two wide delineated shoulders suitable for pedestrian traffic. The planned span of the bridge is 70', or 21 meters, and the total travelled way will be 9.15 meters wide.

New infrastructure for this project will consist of one 21.2 m x 11.3m prefabricated bridge, approximately 200m of realigned roadway, and 20 meters of concrete encasement to protect existing underground utilities. Supporting this will be 50 meters of riprap lining either bank to prevent the newly shaped slopes from eroding, and new signage and barriers for safety once the existing culverts have been removed.