The provincial and federal governments announced the joint funding of a new bridge over the Petitcodiac River to the tune of $61.6 million.
Federal Cabinet Minister Dominic LeBlanc announced the federal contribution of $28.7 million.
While Premier Brian Gallant announced the provincial government was covering the remaining $32.9 million.
“Decades ago, mistakes were made that have had an impact on the environment here, and we’ve acknowledged that overtime, so for many years we’ve been discussing about fixing it,” says Gallant.
Construction for the 240 metre long steel girder bridge will begin in the Spring of 2017, with the detour, substructure and temporary works.
Completion is estimated by 2021.
Meanwhile, the Chair of the Petitcodiac Riverkeeper is elated about the decision to build the bridge and restore the river system.
Paul Belliveau says the confirmation of the project is the culmination of the work of several generations of local residents.
“The contribution of so many people that have worked hard for close to 50 years, trying to make the various government levels realize the damage that basically occurred by building the bridge,” says Belliveau.
He says they are already seeing the river bounce back since the causeway gates were opened.
Belliveau anticipates once the new bridge is complete, it will still take decades for the river to heal.
The Riverkeeper was only one of many local environmental groups concerned with the health of the river, and pleased with today’s announcement.
