Bernier Bridge
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It was that rebuilt bridge that was swept away on January 12 when an ice dam that had built up along the adjacent rail bridge broke free and knocked both spans off their footings and out into the river.
According to the Mayor, the work to construct a new bridge was done at a cost of $900,000, with $500,000 being covered by a grant from the Provincial Government.
“This is a very important bridge,” said François Bonnardel, MNA for Granby, Minister responsible for the Estrie region and Quebec’s Minister for Transport. “There was no question of not supporting the city of Sherbrooke in its replacement.”
Although the subsidy was granted by the previous liberal government, Bonnardel praised the fact that the work was finished under the original budget of $1.1 million and underlined the importance of the bridge in the area.
“This bridge is used by more than 7,000 ATV and snowmobile enthusiasts each year,” Bonnardel said, noting that offroad recreational vehicles represent a significant component of Quebec’s wintertime economy.
The Transport Minister also used the opportunity, just days before the official opening of the 2018-19 snowmobile season, to speak to the importance of safety.
“Snowmobiling and ATV driving is not without risk,” Bonnardel said, urging caution. “Every year we see too many accidents on our trails.”
The new bridge is 70 metres long from end to end and, according to Daniel Beaudette, President of the Harfang de L’estrie snowmobile club, is higher and more secure than the bridge that washed out in January.
“It’s magnificent,” the club president said. “It is a really popular bridge.”
Beaudette said that many businesses near the bridge suffered a significant loss of business last winter after the bridge washed out.
The rail bridge belonging to the Saint Lawrence and Atlantic Railway was replaced by April of this year.