Digby County celebrates new Gates Lane Bridge opening

New Gates Lane Bridge Opens in Digby County, N.S.

Two years after the closure of a century-old bridge in Digby County, N.S., community members gathered to celebrate its replacement.

A ribbon-cutting event took place on Saturday for the new Gates Lane Bridge. This bridge connects Weymouth Mills to Weymouth Falls and marks the official opening of the $5.5-million structure, which has been operational since October 2025.

The new bridge is a Bailey bridge, replacing the previous steel truss bridge that stood for over 121 years. The old bridge was closed by the province without warning on January 10, 2024, as it was past its expected lifespan.

Ann Lewis, a resident living about 45 metres from the bridge, attended a public meeting after its closure. She noted that the new bridge symbolizes the community’s determination.

“In a small community, any rural community, it’s difficult to get people to show any amount of enthusiasm to come out for any kind of community meeting,” she said. “It was standing room only … so they got the point in a real hurry that they goofed by closing it without warning and without consulting the community.”

Following public consultation and a structural review by the Department of Public Works, the province decided it was not feasible to repair the aging bridge and opted for a replacement.

Digby-Annapolis MLA Jill Balser emphasized the importance of community feedback.

“The public was very, very clear. We want this bridge reopened,” she said. “There are still many residents who live here, who use that bridge on a regular basis, and to not look at a permanent solution would be detrimental to the residents.”

The old bridge was demolished in early January last year, and construction on the new bridge began shortly after. The work was completed in October.