The federal government will spend $729,100 to replace a wooden mast atop Halifax's Citadel Hill with a fibreglass version.

On Friday, the government published a notice that Dora Construction Ltd. of Dartmouth was awarded the contract on Dec. 16, 2015.

"For the purpose of increasing the life span of the mast, the main structural elements are to be fabricated from reinforced plastic/fibreglass to replace the existing Douglas Fir," the award notice said.

The company will replace the taller of the two masts. The document said it was built in 1980.

The total cost of the work includes the replacement of associated platforms and railings, plus a complete set of signal flags. Work will begin later this year.

The two replica masts represent those historically used as signalling systems before electronic telecommunications took over, according to Parks Canada.

The taller mast was used to communicate to the public. The shorter of the two was used for military communications.