Englishtown Ferry Bridge Replacement OptionNSTIR

March 23rd, 2015

Overview

• NSTIR was asked by the Victoria County Council to explore the feasibility of replacing the existing Englishtown Ferry service with a permanent bridge structure.

• A preliminary study determined that if a bridge is to be built, a bridge containing a lift span would be the preferred option.

Site Specifications• Englishtown Ferry site contains many

physical constraints, the most prominent being the deep inlet, the short approach on the Englishtown side, and the fact that the Jersey Cove approach is a sandy shoal that is a marginal elevation above sea-level.

• The site also has important details currently unknown, such as geology in the area, unmapped oceanography, and specific hydraulic, hydrological, and geomorphic conditions.

ENGLISHTOWN FERRY

TORQUIL MACLEAN

ENGLISHTOWN FERRY

• OPERATES BETWEEN ENGLISHTOWN & JERSEY COVE

• ANNUAL OPERATING COST $1,254,923

• FEES COLLECTED $477,200

• VOYAGE LENGTH - 185 METERS

• CROSSING TIME – 90 SECONDS

• VOYAGES – 45,000

• VEHICLE TRAFFIC – 226,000

• PASSENGERS – 470,000

• SAILS ON DEMAND

What type of Bridge will work?

• We know a the bridge needs to be high or have the ability to open to allow Ships to sail into St. Anns Harbour

• Staff considered two moveable type spans, lift span and bascule span along with a non-movable bridge

• A lift bridge is the best solution

• NFL Transportation is currently building a Lift Bridge in Placentia, this is a great comparative structure

• The Placentia structure is costing approx. $40.67M

Lift Bridge at Englishtown Site• Staff used the existing Ferry slip drawings

from the 1970’s to determine the approximate size of a Bridge

• The structure could include two 71m approach spans, and a 33m lift span

• There would be two piers located on either side of the lift structure

• Its estimated to cost at a min $45 Million

Detail on the Placentia Lift Bridge• The bridge contains two 32m

approach spans and a 33m lift span.

• The total project cost was awarded at $40.67 Million, with the lift span itself costing approximately $34.4 Million.

• To keep the cost estimate relative, the assumed length of the lift span at the Englishtown Ferry site was also 33m.

Bridge Vs FerryBridge

• $45 Million initial capital cost

• Life span of 75yrs

• The bridge will require staff to operate the lift span

• Requires maintenance on a regular basis

• $5M every 25yrs

• $1M every 5 yrs at 30 yrs

Ferry

• The current ferry will need to be replaced in 20 yrs

• Ferry’s have a 30 year life span

• A new ferry is estimated to cost $8M in 2015 dollars

• They require dry docking every 4 yrs, cost of $400,000

Costing factors• CPI used is 1.88%

• Cost of borrowing is 4% (30 year bonds)

• Amortization on the bridge is at 5%

• Amortization on the Ferry is at 15%

• Current ferry has a book value of 2.5M

• 4% is the rate used to determine future cost (FV)

$0

$2,000,000

$4,000,000

$6,000,000

$8,000,000

$10,000,000

$12,000,000

$14,000,000

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75

Year

ly C

ost

YEAR

EnglishtownBridge vs Ferry

Bridge

Ferry22-23 years

New Ferry

44-45 years

Conclusions

• The yearly cost of the bridge is more expensive until year 22-23 when the ferry is replaced.

• At year 44-45 the overall costs of either option is equal.

• At year 53 the bridge shows a positive cost comparison due to the acquisition of a new ferry.

• At year 75 a new bridge would be required which is not shown in the comparison.