A twinning project in Hants County can finally be completed after Ottawa approved replacing a structure controlling tidal flow in the Avon River.
Last week, the provincial government announced that federal counterparts said the Avon River aboiteau can be replaced, which means construction can also begin on building two bridges on Highway 101 near Windsor.
It is a project that’s been in the works for several years, but Indigenous disputes about fish passage and a lack of consultation have delayed the process.
The province says that with the approval under the Fisheries Act, the gated structure that controls tidal flow will allow for adaptability.
Construction is expected to take about three years, and the plan includes long-term monitoring to evaluate the aboiteau’s impact on the passage of fish and other environmental concerns.
According to a release from the government, the province has been seeking a green light from Fisheries and Oceans Canada on the project since 2020, with this approval bringing flood protection solutions while also improving fish passage in the area.
The province says the current aboiteau was constructed in the late 1960s and is at the end of its intended life.