Fixing Bay Road Bridge not a priority, says province

Transportation officials say fixing the Bay Road Bridgein Inverness, P.E.I., is not a priority.

The province announced Wednesday the bridge would be closed permanently because of structural concerns.

The concerns were that traffic, or a vehicle might actually go through the deck and you know, into the river.- Darrell Evans

Darrell Evans with the Department of Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy said thereare no residents on Bay Road, and traffic volume across the bridge is "very low."

"We don't foresee doing any work to that in the next five years because we have other priorities," he said.

There is a seven-kilometer detour around the bridge.

• Bay Road Bridge permanently closed to all traffic

Routine inspection

Evans said a bridge inspection team identified the structural issues during a routine inspection last weekend. Every bridge in P.E.I. is inspected at least once every two years.

He said inspectors determined the foundation was no longer able to support the structure.

"The concerns were that traffic or a vehicle might actually go through the deck and, you know, into the river."

Closures becoming more common

Evans said Bay Road Bridge is the third structure the department has closed due to structural concerns this year.

He said inspectors are coming across more structural issues with bridges as the years go by due to age.

"They're not getting any younger," he said.

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