The Salmon River Bridge in Chipman, pictured here in Sept. 2018, has been closed to one lane for several months due to deterioration. (Photo: © 2019 Google)
Concern is growing in a village east of Fredericton over the fate of an important link in the community.
The Salmon River Bridge on Route 10 in Chipman has been closed to one lane for several months.
An inspection performed following the 2018 spring freshet revealed deterioration on the structure.
Mayor Carson Atkinson said the province has given them no answers about when — or if — the lane will reopen.
“We continually, on a monthly basis, ask for any updates. We’ve not had any real response,” said Atkinson.
“I know they’ve had surveyors out and that kind of thing but I’ve had no feedback about the results of those studies either.”
Traffic on the two-lane bridge is currently being controlled by temporary traffic signals on either end. Drivers often have to wait several minutes for their turn to cross.
Atkinson said this delay is having a negative impact on the area’s economy. He said more than 200 heavy trucks come in and out of the village every day, with many going to J.D. Irving-owned Grand Lake Timber Sawmill.
“I understand that [provincial] finances are tight, but Chipman is an economic driver in central-southern New Brunswick and we want to see [the bridge] opened so that we’re not faced with a decline in our employment.”
Atkinson said residents have also raised concerns about safety and emergency response in the community.
“Whether it’s Ambulance New Brunswick or our fire trucks, the bridge separates the community and access, and let’s face it, children walk across the bridge to get access from one side of the river to the other,” he said.
In an emailed statement, the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure said replacement options are currently being developed for the bridge, which was built in 1961.
“The department is aware of the importance the bridge has to residents and the local economy and appreciates the public’s continued patience,” said Jeremy Trevors, a spokesperson for the department.
“More details on this project will be communicated to the public when available.”
In a follow-up email, Trevors said there is no timeframe for the project at this time.
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