A contract valued at almost $8 million has been awarded to Coady Construction & Excavating to replace Rushy Pond Bridge on the Trans Canada Highway about 6 kilometres west of Grand Falls-Windsor.

The contract includes the construction of a new concrete bridge and a temporary bypass around the site, installation of guard rails, and paving of the highway leading to the new structure and removal of the existing bridge.

Work is expected to start this season and be finished by next year.

That bridge is one of two near Grand Falls-Windsor to be replaced. JCL Investments was in January awarded a contract worth $2.4 million to replace Aspen Brook Bridge, about 20 kilometre west of the central Newfoundland town.