First full weekend without bridge access begins today, Friday, July 18
Starting this weekend, the Florenceville Bridge on Route 130 will be closed to traffic, including emergency vehicles, from tonight (Friday, July 18) at 6 p.m. to Monday, July 21, at 6 a.m.
This is the first of five weekend closures, which, according to Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DTI) Communications Officer Jacob MacDonald, are “necessary to accelerate repair work and ensure the bridge can reopen to two-lane traffic for the upcoming winter and spring seasons.”
Aside from this weekend, bridge closures will also occur on July 25 to 28, Aug. 8 to 11, Aug. 22 to 25, and Oct. 17 to 20.
The scheduled bridge closures will leave District of Carleton North residents unable to reach the other side of the river without a significant detour, as the area’s only other bridge, the historic Old Florenceville Bridge, remains closed, despite lobbying efforts to complete the necessary repairs that would reopen it.
Residents will be forced to drive to either Hartland (24 km away) or Perth-Andover (37 km away) to cross the river.
Beyond the inconvenience of such an extensive detour, the inability to cross the bridge has residents concerned about access to emergency services during weekend closures.
While there are fire departments located on both sides of the river in the District of Carleton North, the only Ambulance NB station is situated on the east side of the river in Florenceville-Bristol, leaving residents concerned about response times, given the significant detours that would be necessary during an emergency.
“The Emergency Measures Organization and local emergency services have been notified and are aware of the scheduled Route 130 Florenceville Bridge closures. Any updates to these closures are communicated to those stakeholders accordingly,” said MacDonald.
Mayor Andrew Harvey said Ambulance NB does have a plan in place.
“They [Ambulance NB] have a plan to cover the west side [but I] can’t speak to the details of the plan. But, there is a plan and there will be coverage on the west side,” he told the River Valley Sun.
While officials are trying to reassure residents that plans are in place to address service accessibility, the lack of communication with the public is upsetting for many.
“I have been a little frustrated getting the genuine information into the hands of the public [and] residents are frustrated to have their access to both sides of the river impeded by not just one but two bridge closures,” said Carleton-Victoria MLA Margaret Johnson.
“My greatest concern, which I have shared with District of Carleton North council, is emergency services. My genuine concern is emergency ambulance services to that side of the river during these closures.”
Johnson said she feels an ambulance should be stationed on the west side of the bridge during the closures; however, whether one will be posted there has not been announced by DTI or Ambulance NB.
