'They’re isolated': N.B. seniors wait for covered bridge repair

Not much has changed at the Midway/Germantown Covered Bridge in New Brunswick since last summer.

Located near Riverside-Albert, the 121-year-old structure was closed in June after a regular inspection.

The closure has forced Hilyard and Sylvia Rossiter to take a roughly 30-minute detour to get to the main road to Moncton.

“Nothing. They haven’t done nothing, hardly,” said Hilyard.

Sylvia said they’ve been trying to get answers from the province for months on when it will be repaired.

“They said they’re still trying to figure out what they’re going to do. Seven months later and they still don’t know? That’s not really acceptable. Nothing we can do,” said Sylvia.

The Rossiters said the condition of the unpaved road isn’t too bad, but they believe the detour is a big inconvenience for them and the 10-to-12 people who live on Midway Road.

“It’s alright now because it’s frozen. But in the spring with that mud, it’s a mud road up there, that’ll get soft in the spring,” said Hilyard.

The Midway/Germantown Covered Bridge has been closed since June 2024. (Source: Derek Haggett/CTV News Atlantic)

Not having an easy or quick way to Route 114 which leads to Moncton is an obvious concern for their daughter Stephanie Rossiter.

“They’re isolated here. Two minutes from the bridge. Three minutes from the main road, but can’t use the bridge. It needs to be fixed. We need a river crossing here. Sooner than later,” said Stephanie.

The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DTI) says site work can't start until "early 2025."

The Rossiters said Riverview-Albert MLA Sherry Wilson is well aware of their situation and has come out to visit them a few times.

“I’ve been pushing for the bridge to get done,” said Wilson.

Wilson also has concerns with the detour.

“The problem with that road, there’s no ditching on either side. And the mud part, the dirt part of that road, it’s really almost impassable in the spring when it starts to melt. So it’s crucial that we get this bridge fixed and fixed right away,” said Wilson.

Stephanie Rossiter said she has emailed the premier’s office and DTI, but has yet to receive any answers, and is clearly frustrated.

“In the event of a big storm can emergency vehicles get to them? We don’t know,” said Stephanie.

Wilson said she spoke with Transportation Minister Chuck Chiasson Wednesday morning and believes the bridge will eventually get fixed, but she isn’t sure when.

“I really believe it will be because it’s crucial for them and a lot cheaper to fix the bridge,” said Wison. “I think this one can be repaired.”

William Mitton Covered Bridge

One covered bridge that likely can’t be repaired is the William Mitton Covered Bridge near Riverview, which is also part of Wilson’s constituency.

That bridge has been in a state of disrepair for years and is in danger of collapsing into the Petitcodiac River.

The William Mitton Covered Bridge has been in a state of disrepair for years. (Source: Derek Haggett/CTV News Atlantic)

“That one is impossible to fix. It’s deteriorating to the point it’s not fixable,” said Wilson. “I’m told that it is going to be taken out.”

The Rossiters are hoping that’s not the case for their bridge.

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