'Fix it, please': Nipawin resident worried about future of historic bridge after traffic closure
Some residents of a Saskatchewan town are raising concern about the future of their community’s historic landmark.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Ministry of Highways sent out a notice that the old Nipawin bridge, also known as the crooked bridge, would be closed to vehicle traffic starting Wednesday morning.
According to Patrick Book, senior communications consultant with the ministry, the closure came from a third-party inspection that took place late last week. Investigators recommended the ministry immediately close the bridge to traffic, he said, citing overloading on the approaches where the road meets the bridge.
“It was sudden news for everyone. For the ministry, it was a very quick decision that had to be made in the interest of safety,” he said.
“There really was no choice.”
Connie Morrow grew up in a home along the riverbank next to the bridge. She said she has a lot of memories tied to the structure, including riding horses across it and snapping photos there with her mom.
“It was like our backyard,” she said.
Morrow said she, and other residents she’s spoken to, weren’t expecting the closure.
“I cried. I was shocked. It happened so suddenly,” she said.
FUTURE UNCERTAIN
Book said within an hour of the ministry accepting the recommendation, it sent a notice on social media and to news outlets, and started calling a list of stakeholders to inform them of the bridge’s sudden closure to vehicle traffic.
Now, he said, the ministry will be speaking to those stakeholders to determine whether the bridge will be closed permanently to vehicles.
However, the railway is still open for trains to cross.
“It’s not as though the structure itself is in danger of imminent collapse or anything like that. This is a preventative measure that we’re taking here.”
'IT'S OUR LANDMARK'
The old Nipawin bridge was built in 1931. In 1974, the ministry built a new bridge on Highway 55 about five kilometres away – after its construction, Book said the ministry informed that town that it intended to eventually close the old bridge for service.
“There’s a lot of people that use it. There’s a lot of people that rely on it and depend on it,” said Morrow about the old bridge.
“When the other bridge has been down, they’ve relied on this one and they repair it a lot. So it’s such a huge effect, and if they can make it safe, if it’s shores, then fix it, please.”
If anything, Morrow said she wants it made into a historical site for people to visit.
“It’s the history of the bridge as well. It’s our landmark, and we’re famous for our crooked bridge and we love it.”
Book said the ministry still needs to do engineering and financial assessments on potentially reopening the bridge the vehicles.
The Town of Nipawin said a meeting is taking place at the end of the month, but did not want to comment until a decision has been made.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Auston Matthews was back on the ice with his teammates Saturday.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.