Frustration is mounting in the small community of Cherryvale, N.B. after its covered bridge was swept away in the spring.
Residents who live on either side of the Canaan River say they’re growing tired of having to take a three-kilometre detour.
“I wish they’d get it fixed,” says Richard Garber. “If you’re headed up towards Coles Island, it’s a long ways around, and every spring when it floods down here at the other bridge, there’s no way out of here.”
In addition to being inconvenient, some residents are worried it’s also unsafe.
“For me, it’s not the matter of the length. It’s the safety,” says Christy Stillman. “We have no bridge, and if the rivers flooded over the road here, we’d have no way out.”
“We need quicker access for RCMP, ambulance, fire trucks,” says resident Rilla Moss. “You know, 15 to 20 minutes makes a big difference.”
The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure says it has yet to decide what, if anything, will replace the Cherryvale Bridge. If they do decide to replace it, details will be released in thenext budget.
“I hope they allot something for it, even if it were a bailey bridge,” says Moss. “I know a lot of people want a covered bridge, but they just don’t replace those anymore.”
Residents say they are keeping their fingers crossed as they await details of the capital budget.
