A temporary fix will bridge the gap and reconnect both sides of Marystown, says mayor

The Newfoundland and Labrador government announced Thursdaya temporary bridge will be installed in Marystown while work continues on the Canning Bridge, which closed indefinitely to vehicle traffic almost a year ago.

Marystown Mayor Brian Keatingsaidhe hopes the temporary bridge will be open to vehicles by late fall this year or early spring next year.

The temporary bridge, known colloquially as a Bailey bridge, will be built alongside the permanent replacement of the Canning Bridge, which Keating saidwill likely be completed by fall of 2027.

The Canning Bridge closure separates the south side of Marystown, where most people live, from the north side, where the town's grocery stores, restaurants and shops are located. The closure has made travelling in the town a more costly and lengthy endeavour that many residents havepreviously described asfrustratingand straining.

Keating saidthe announcement is welcome news for his community.

"Of course, you know, everybody would like the bridge to be open today," he said.

"The temporary bridge will relieve some of the burden, but we've still got a lot of burden on the taxpayers of Marystown until this bridge is open."

Lengthy permit process

The Canning Bridge on Route 220 closed in February last year,after routine inspections were completed to determine itssafety and found it was unfit for vehicle traffic because of a reduction in the its maximum load limit.

The bridge currently remains open to foot traffic and cyclists.

Keating saidthe town has been working closely with the provincial government for the past year. Three days after the bridge closed, he said, council members went to St. John's and met with former transportation minister Elvis Loveless.

Current Transportation Minister John Abbott and Paul Pike, theMHA for Burin-Grand Bank,joined Keating for Thursday's announcement.

Keating said there's $25 million to build both bridges $5 million to $6 million for the temporary bridge, and $18 million to $19 million for the permanent bridge.

The schedule to complete the temporary bridge has a lot to do with a lengthy permitting process with theDepartment of Fisheries and Oceans to build it over a waterway.

Keating saidhis councillors and staff are writing letters toparliamentasking federal Fisheries MinisterDiane Lebouthillier to expedite the process.

Once the permits arecomplete, it will take about six months to complete construction on the temporary bridge.

Other factors will come into play, including reviewing bids from contractors, gettingbuilding permitsand studies.

Although it may seem like a long time to get the bridge up and running, Keating saidthe town is optimistic.

"We can't harp on the past now. We can only continue forward and make sure that the temporary bridge gets opened in late fall 2024 so the residents will have a safe passage back and forth," he said.

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