No decision on Mira Gut bridge
Old structure was torn down in 2017 due to poor condition
Although no decision has been made on the future of the Mira Gut bridge, officials say the process is forging ahead.
Alfie MacLeod, MLA for Sydney River-Mira-Louisbourg, said he recently checked on the status of the bridge and learned the province has yet to make a decision.
The 140-year-old structure was torn down in November 2017 due to its deteriorating condition.
“They last I heard was that (the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal) is still working on it and didn’t expect anything before the end of the summer at the earliest, where they’d have some sort of indication of what they were going to do,” he said.
“The fact they are still working
on it I’m looking at as a good sign. They haven’t said ‘no’ so I’m holding it as a positive thing.”
Whether or not the bridge will be a swing structure or a stationary bridge are among the decisions to be made.
MacLeod said he’s not an engineer but believes the higher bridge would be the cheaper option. It makes sense that the
province would go with the least expensive option, but the decision will most likely be dictated by Navigation Canada, he added.
“You’d have to think a bridge that swings has a lot more mechanical parts to it so would be more expensive than something that’s stationary.”
MacLeod said Albert Bridge would dictate the height of the boats going through.
“It doesn’t make any sense to me to have it any higher than Albert Bridge as the boats couldn’t get up past there anyway.”
There are a lot of people interested in the status of the project, he added.
MacLeod said on a different issue, the roads in Main-a-Dieu have received some patching but need significant work.
“I’ve been working with the area manager on a program for next year. Whether or not it will happen I’m not sure.”
Marla MacInnis, spokesperson for the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, confirmed that no decision has been made on the status of Mira Gut bridge.
“We’re still reviewing the design and cost options,” she said. “It’s hoped soon there will be something.”