Aecon Construction and Materials has been awarded a $58.3m contract for the construction of the first four-lane overhead eco-passage in Ontario, Canada.

The project has been initiated by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources.

It involves the expansion of 115km of Highway 69 between Parry Sound and Sudbury into four lanes with a 30m-wide wildlife bridge stretching south from the town of Estaire to enhance wildlife protection measures and ensure traffic safety.

The bridge comprises abutments, a series of fences and concrete barrier walls to prevent noise and light impacts from vehicles travelling under the bridge.

The construction also involves an under-crossing to the north of the bridge, designed for comparison purposes.

The bridge is scheduled to be completed by autumn 2011.