Trucks refuse to carry goods into Placentia

Problems with Placentia's lift bridge are causing headaches for local businesses, with the town's mayor saying a temporary road is unfit for use.

The bridge that leads into the main part of town is closed to heavy vehicles, so drivers are having to pass over about eight kilometres of poorly maintained dirt road.

'They're probably bringing it in smaller trucks, but that's going to stop too.' Mayor Bill Hogan

Mayor Bill Hogan said the road has deep ruts filled with mud and some truck drivers won't use it.

"They've already refused to bring supplies in to one of the major grocery stores here. They're not getting to Sobeys, for example, because the trucks are refusing to bring it," said Hogan.

"They're probably bringing it in smaller trucks, but that's going to stop too."

Hogan said the provincial transportation department has been working on the road since the weekend, but it really needs to be rebuilt for trucks to use.

The bridge was declared unsafe for use by vehicles weighing more than 13,000 kilograms last month.

The provincial government plans to replace the bridge within four years.