Provincial Government Looks At Strategies To Preserve Covered Bridges In New Brunswick
New Brunswick has quite the network of bridges and river ferries and the government is now looking at strategies in order to help preserve them.
According to New Nouveau Brunswick Canada, the government review will take in account of community and heritage values, as well as cultural and transportation needs when deciding how they want to try and fund preservation of covered bridges and river ferries in New Brunswick.
Bill Oliver, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister, stated that the review will support a management strategy, long-term, which will include input from the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture, as well as stakeholders and people from the various communities.
In 1950, there were about 340 covered bridges, however, that number has dwindled to about 54 provincially today.
A few of the bridges being considered for preservation work include, but are not limited to:
- The world's longest covered bridge in Harland
- The longest single span of all covered bridges in Smithtown
- The oldest covered bridge in New Brunswick in Nelson's Hallow (built in1900)
There is a good reason to consider preserving these old bridges as they do cut down on commuter time as well as making livestock and farm equipment transportable.
The department plans to present all financial requirements that are related to the strategy as a part of their 2020-21 budget process.