Reopen Miramichi's Morrissy Bridge: trail groups

Three organizations are calling for the reopening of Morrissy Bridgein Miramichi.

The bridge has been a fixture across theMiramichiRiver between Chatham Head and Newcastle since 1914, but it was deemed unsafe in 2008 and has been closed since then.

Now the New Brunswick Federation of Snowmobile Clubs, the New Brunswick All Terrain Vehicle Federation and The New Brunswick Trails Council Inc. say the bridge should become a legal throughway again.

"What we would like to see is all of us partner together with the city and the province to get that bridge opened up for all trail users," said Paul Jorgensen, the executive director of the trails council.

The groups say the bridge could help extend the snowmobile season, improve ATV trails, and encourage "active transportation."

When the bridge was first closed it was going to be demolished, butTransportation and Infrastructure Minister Claude Williams said the demolition plans were put on hold aftercommunity stakeholders expressed an interest in keeping the bridge for recreational use.

Williams said the stakeholders were discouraged from moving forward, however, by the cost of repairs and maintenance.

The bridge needs an estimated $6 million worth of work, whichneither the municipality, nor the clubs can afford.

The transportation ministersaysno final decision about the bridge has been made.

"The department will consult with the community again before making any further plans for demolition. This would only occur if and when funding becomes available in the capital budget," Williams said in a statement.

For now, the bridgeremains officially closed even to pedestrians, although it is regularly used by people who ignore the posted signs and step over the barricade.

"If it sits much longer unused, I wonder if it will be structurally sound," said Jorgensen.