New bridge legacy for Bathurst region after armed forces exercise - Action News
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New Brunswick

New bridge legacy for Bathurst region after armed forces exercise

Snowmobilers will have no issues this winter travelling the trails of the northern loop in northern New Brunswick thanks to the work of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Bridge will link north and south snowmobile trails and eventually, ATV trails

The new bridge across the Tetagouche River for year-round recreational vehicle use was opened Nov. 18. (Nepisiguit Lodge/Facebook)

Snowmobilers will have no issues this winter travelling the trails of the northern loop in northern New Brunswick thanks to the work of the Canadian Armed Forces.

As part of Exercise NIHILO SAPPER 2016, the armed forcesbuilt anew bridge built across the Tetagouche River in Bathurst, behind the Atlantic Host hotel. That bridgewill ensure safer crossings and a longer snowmobiling season saidJacques Ouellette, development coordinator with the New Brunswick All Terrain Vehicle Federation.

Ouellette saidtwo kilometres of trails in that areahave historicallybeen problematic because of a number of river crossings, but now the new bridge connects the north and south loops of the trail.

Combat Engineers work on the construction of the new recreational vehicle bridge across the Tetagouche River. (5th Canadian Division/Contributed)
"We fixed three sections that snowmobilers had problems with so for them this will mean as soon as there is snow, eight inches, ten inches of snow they will be able to travel all the way around without having to consider crossing the rivers."

Ouellette hopes a second phase of the project will connect the bridge with three kilometres of new ATV trails also built by the armed forces. It's hoped that will happen by the winter of 2018, but Ouellette says the timeline will depend on funding.

In total, both projects are valued at $100,000.

New partnership

Ouellette said the partnership between the armed forces from Base Gagetown, the ATV federation and the New Brunswick Federation of Snowmobile Clubs began with an email exchange.

"I heard a few years back that the army had this group that liked to build trails or build bridges for some organizations."

Ouellette sent a list of the projects the organizations hoped to get done, with the bridge across the Tetagouche River as the priority.

"They really fell in love with that project and I could dare to say it's probably what attracted to Bathurst with those kinds of projects."

A new bridge across the Tetagouche River in Bathurst will be used by recreational vehicles year-round. It was built as part of the Canadian Armed Forces during Exercise NIHILO SAPPER 2016. (5th Canadian Division/Contributed)

Initial plans werefor a 30 metre span bridge but it had to be extended to 45 metres to avoid ice blockages in the spring.

"As we were moving on, it was getting more and more complex or complicated for national defence to move ahead with the project. But they accepted to accept that challenge and here we are, a successful bridge has passed the test 100 per cent."

Army Training

Combat engineers work on the bridge across the Tetagouche River that will be used by recreational vehicles year round. (5th Canadian Division/Contributed)

The exercise givesboth regular and reserve force membershands-on technical training to make sure the army is ready to deploy soldiers when called upon, said Sub. Lt. JamieTobin, the public affairs officer with the exercise.

Tobinsaid theBathurstarea was an ideal location for an exercise, with its access to a port, railway and airport, and its distance away from BaseGagetown.

Building thebridge and trail were buttwo of the projects the 500 armed forces personnel from 4 Engineering Support Regiment and 37 Canadian Brigade Group were involved in during their three week visit toBathurst.

"We're glad that we were able to build this bridge and leave a bit of a legacy and leave something behind for the community," saidTobin.

Ouellette said theNew Brunswick All Terrain Vehicle Federationisin talks with National defence to see if another exercise could be held in the region to help with a separate project in Belledune.

"We also have projects in other parts of the province that might interest national defence."