St. Peters Canal National Historic Site 2017 Federal Infrastructure Investment Project Completion

St. Peters Canal National Historic Site     

St. Peters was the site of Fort Saint-Pierre, a 17th century fortified trading post acquired by Nicolas Denys in 1650 to trade with the Mi’kmaq. Designated a national historic site in 1929, approximately 12,000 people visit St. Peter’s Canal site per year. Thousands of vehicles cross the bridge each month and it swings open for more than a thousand boats each year. Visitors can enjoy a picnic while watching the vessels lock through the 800-metre canal, linking the Atlantic Ocean with the Bras d’Or Lake. www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/ns/stpeters

Federal Infrastructure Project Completion

St. Peters Canal Swing Bridge Replacement

The St. Peters Canal National Historic Site’s one-lane swing bridge was built in 1936. Having reached the end of its 80-year lifespan, this project underwent a full bridge replacement to ensure vital throughway connection on a main provincial highway (Highway 4), as well as boat traffic on this important waterway to and from the Bras d’Or and Atlantic Ocean. Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) managed the project on behalf of Parks Canada. The work included road realignment, widening from a one-lane to a two-lane bridge, and an updated pedestrian walkway. A unique feature is the heavy load it supports in the order of 1100 metric tonnes.

Mi’kmaw Interpretation Panels

As part of this project, new interpretation panels are currently in production. The Mi’kmaw interpretative panels will signify aspects of the region’s history and culture with the nearby Mi’kmaw community of Potlotek First Nation. Visitors will be able to draw from these panels the historic connection of when French fur trader Nicolas Denys acquired Saint-Pierre, a 17th century fortified trading post, in order to trade with Mi’kmaw communities. He established a "haul-over road" across the isthmus so oxen could pull ships from one shore to another.

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