There are growing concerns about the declining number of covered bridges in New Brunswick. The iconic spans are considered a unique attraction to the province, but they are slowly disappearing.
The Cherryvale Bridge covering the Canaan River is the latest casualty. It broke free in heavy flooding on April 16 and came to rest against a highway overpass. What's left of the 87 year old span is slowly being ripped apart by the constant current.
Some residents would like it removed, but government inspectors say they can't do much until water levels recede. Some say more should be done to preserve the old spans.
"Basically, covered bridges are New Brunswick icon", says William Crouch from the Bridge Information Centre. "In Nova Scotia, they have light houses. In Prince Edward Island, they got this little kid running around with red hair. So these are sort of things that are important to the province,” says Crouch.
Author Brian Atkinson wrote a book on the subject.
"There was 300 and some bridges in the early 1900's,” says Atkinson. "Then, when I started the book, it was in the low 60's. Well, I think they've lost three or five since then.”
Tourism operators would like to see the matter become an election issue, forcing the government to do more to preserve and protect the spans
"When you have an election year, and a lot of protest things seem to happen rather than after an election,” says Crouch.
New Brunswickers go to the polls this September.
