Checking on the progress of the new Nisutlin Bay Bridge at Teslin
I’ve been watching the planning and construction progress of the Nisutlin Bay Bridge at Teslin since it all began, and have been planning for many months to drive down for a look. With Spring approaching, I’m getting very itchy to hit the road in some form, so when I saw a great weather forecast on March 2nd, I asked Cathy if she wanted to go, and we were soon on our way, with Bella and Tucker.
I knew I hadn’t been down the highway for a long time, but I see in my blog archives that the last time was August 5, 2021, and that was the first since February 12, 2019, when I drove to Watson Lake to get a Jeep-load of rescue puppies (17 of them!). So this drive was long overdue.
I shot the first photo just east of Jake’s Corner at 1:20 – the sight of White Mountain often stops me for a photo or 2.
East of Squanga Lake at 1:43.
Dropping down the hill to Johnson’s Crossing Lodge and the Teslin River Bridge.
As we crossed the Teslin River Bridge, I was very pleased to see 10 swans on the river. I’m looking forward to going for a few swan photography outings in the coming weeks.
The kids are always happy to go for a car ride 🙂
I really like this view of the highway and Teslin Lake at Km 1264.9, and added another couple of photos to the collection.
The impressive Dawson Peaks ahead at 2:05 – they’re the sign that Teslin is getting close.
At 2:23 I shot the first photo of the bridges old and new. Our first stop, though, was immediately to the left of that view, the restaurant at the Yukon Motel. We were both very pleased by both the size and quality of our meals.
Then it was time to have as close a look as possible at the bridges. The next photo was shot from the parki ng lot of the Yukon Motel, at 3:20. The new bridge is scheduled to be open next Spring, and the old one, despite being Teslin’s official symbol, will be demolished.
Cathy had driven to Teslin, but now I had taken the wheel. We crossed the highway to get some photos of the old bridge from the best angle.
The new span is quite a bit higher than the current one.
The open steel grate of the bridge creates a noise that gives these bridges the name “singing bridges.” I should have shot a video so you can hear that – next time. These decks are universally hated by motorcycle riders, including me – they’re quite uneven after 70 years of use and bikes get tossed around badly.
I had expected to be able to get some good photos from the Teslin Viewpoint and Rest Area up the hill to the south, but was very surprised to find that it hadn’t been plowed and there weren’t even any footprints through the deep snow to the viewing area. The grade of the rest area road is steep, and locals tell me that it hasn’t been plowed since a tanker truck slid and went over the back there a few years ago.
The construction season hasn’t started yet, and only a handful of people are at work getting things ready for the big crews’ arrival. The final photo is the best one to show the work that’s been done so far.
Just before we left on this drive, a neighbour had sent me photos of a couple of moose that had been in their yard that morning, and had stayed for about 45 minutes. Cool!
When we got home just after 5:00, I discovered that the moose had visited my new bee garden and had eaten over $200 worth of new shrubs – notably an Amur maple and 3 Ninebarks 🙁 Those moose owe me some quality photography time now! I’m setting up a game cam today as well.
Yesterday (March 6th), Tucker and I went on our first Spring hike (no jacket required. Lots of activity ahead now 🙂
About The Author
Hi Murray, you already live in an impressive and privileged landscape.
I certainly do, Jo – acknowledging that fact is my daily expression of Gratitude.