The Princess Margaret Bridge in Fredericton is slated for another repair project, six years after it underwent an $80-million dollar repair job that closed the bridge for two summers.
The New Brunswick government says the construction includes warranty repairs and “seismic upgrades” to the 59-year-old bridge in the case of a catastrophic earthquake.
When the bridge was built, ensuring it could withstand an earthquake wasn’t part of the construction plan.
Earthquakes have been felt in the area before. In 2011, some buildings in the downtown area were evacuated.
“We’re glad the work is being done,” says Fredericton councillor Eric Megarity. “But I guess the problem is the communication with the users of the bridge.”
Megarity did receive some complaints after the bridge was reduced to one lane last week for road cleaning. Residents were upset that they weren’t warned first.
“It goes back to the users that need to know that information so that they can make alternative plans,” says Megarity. “If they have to leave somewhere, they can leave a little earlier.”
The bridge won’t be closed while upgrades are being made.
When the Princess Margaret Bridge underwent repairs in 2010, it caused long and frustrating traffic delays to the tens of thousands of motorists who use it.
However, this time it is being reported that the construction won’t be nearly as bad as the last time. The province is asking the city for a noise-by-law exemption from mid-August until the fall of 2017.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Laura Brown
