Province has no plan for Morrissy Bridge transfer

March 27, 2009

Not only is Fredericton the provincial capitol, it has become the model for a group trying to save the Morrissy Bridge.

Mike Mersereau is part of a group working to keep the province from demolishing the bridge and said they are looking at how the capitol city handled the issue of ownership of the pedestrian bridge over the Saint John River.

"We're looking at the Fredericton model."

In Fredericton, a group of residents saved an old train bridge, which the city now maintains as part of their trail system.

Safety concerns forced the Morrissy Bridge closure in September after an inspection revealed structural problems. An engineer's report stated the cost to repair the 405 metre long bridge could surpass $15 million.

The bridge was slated for demolition, but a community group managed to get the government to wait until an inspection could be done to look into the feasibility of turning the bridge into a pedestrian crossing, like the one in Fredericton.

One of the issues the group will have to deal with is ownership of the bridge, which the province says they no longer want to own.

Mersereau said there are rules governing disposal of public assets and the province has to follow them if they want to get rid of the bridge.

"It's not as easy as it's been portrayed."

But details of how that divestment would proceed are unclear with the Transportation Department unable to say how it would get the bridge of its books if they don't tear it down.

Transportation Department spokesman Matt Fry said he couldn't give details at this time because they don't know yet what is going to happen to the bridge.

"It's all hypothetical at this point. There's nothing really we can say because who knows how it's all going to play out."

Miramichi Centre MLA John Foran has been acting as a liaison between the group and the government, Fry said, but added there was not anything else he could say about it at this time.

"I wish it was all black and white and I could give you a layout of what happens in these situations, but unfortunately that's just not the way it operates."

Mersereau said in Fredericton the Natural Department Resources owns the bridge and leases it to the city.

"That's our objective."

On April 6 the group will hold a public meeting at the Chatham Head Recreation Centre to provide more information about their plans.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. and will feature a speaker from Fredericton and New Brunswick Trails Council executive director Paul Jorgensen.