Base examines potential role in replacing covered bridge
Published Tuesday February 10th, 2009
Engineers from Canadian Forces Base Gagetown are examining the site where a historic covered bridge was once located in Stone Ridge, about 30 kilometres northwest of Fredericton.
The bridge, which crossed the Keswick River and connected the communities of Stone Ridge and Morehouse Corner for nearly 100 years, was destroyed by arson Oct. 10.
Base information officer Lt. (Navy) Brian Owens said Monday that personnel from the 4 Engineer Support Regiment (4ESR) have been talking with the provincial Department of Transportation on the requirements for possible involvement in a replacement structure.
But, he stressed, everything is still in the developmental stage and nothing has been decided.
"They have done a site (reconnaissance) to determine what it would entail ... to see what they would need to bring, if they are capable (and) if that is kind of something that would be in their area of expertise to do from start to finish," Owens said. "It's basically getting a nice background on it."
Transportation Minister Denis Landry said in November that the bridge wouldn't be replaced. He put the cost of erecting a single-lane Bailey bridge in the vicinity of $275,000 to $300,000.
The Department of Transportation wouldn't comment Monday.
Residents have been trying to persuade the government to change its mind. They said losing the bridge has affected the community's ability to get children to school safely and has jeopardized ambulance and fire service.
Owens said the bridge is just one more of the many requests that come to 4ESR regularly for various projects. He said 4ESR is community-minded and has participated in many projects.
"Each one has to be stacked against the available resources and whether they actually have the ability to do it."
Stone Ridge resident Wendy Brewer was encouraged by the news.
"We are very hopeful that the military can come aboard and help with the bridge replacement," Brewer said.
District 2 RCMP continues to investigate the arson.
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