Construction is scheduled to begin in late June on a new $2 million bridge connecting Martock and Upper Falmouth.

Hants West MLA Chuck Porter made the announcement last week.

Sangsters Bridge, which crosses the Avon River, will be replaced by a new modular bridge at a cost of $2 million.

“The old bridge has weight restrictions because of deterioration,” Porter noted during his announcement. “This new bridge will be sturdier and safer for local residents.”

The single lane bridge will be a relatively quick construction process, anticipated at no more than three months and set to commence when school ends to minimize the disruption of traffic.

“Students in Upper Falmouth have to cross the bridge to attend Windsor Forks Elementary School," Porter acknowledged. “We'd like to see minimal disruption to that.”

A two-lane bridge was initially considered, but that would take about eight months to complete and cost more than twice as much. It would also have required larger approaches that would impact the riverbed and bank areas.

The alignment of the eastern approach to the Sangsters Bridge has also been a concern to residents because of the limited sight distance.

The MLA expects this problem to be rectified with the new bridge design.

A consultant was hired last month to implement the specific design and obtain regulatory approval for when the tender is called in May.

“Sangsters Bridge is an important priority for me in West Hants and I'm pleased that the Hon. Murray Scott, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, agreed that it was a priority as well,” Porter added.