Local artist Sharon Hicks figures she has created more than 30 paintings of the Wheaton Covered Bridge over the years, but her latest depiction has a very different feeling.
Titled ‘END OF THE LINE’, it shows the bridge that crosses the Tantramar River at High Marsh Road against a clear blue sky on a summer day. But the way through the bridge is blocked by the now familiar ‘road closed’ sign and concrete blocks, which were placed there by the New Brunswick Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DTI) in July 2024.
Tantramar MLA Megan Mitton presented a copy of Hick’s latest depiction to the new Liberal minister for DTI last week. CHMA called up Mitton to get the latest on the status of the Wheaton Covered Bride:
Mitton says that when she presented Hicks’ drawing to Minister Chuck Chiasson, she told him, “we need timelines, we need commitments, we need to figure out solutions going forward.”
And while there still is no timeline offered up by DTI, Mitton tried to dispel fears that the bridge will be abandoned. “At no time have I heard DTI say they’re just going to abandon this,” says Mitton. “And so I’m going to keep making sure that remains the case.”
Mitton also talked about a letter from Chiasson in response to a community petition she filed in the legislature in December, calling for repair of the 108-year-old bridge. Chiasson’s response notes that use of the bridge in violation of the 5-tonne weight restriction contributed to the structural damage, and that options are still being evaluated, and “decisions regarding this bridge have not yet been made.”
Chiasson’s response to the petition, in part:
“The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DTI) recognizes the importance of all public bridges, including those with heritage status, to the people and the economy of New Brunswick.
The Wheaton Covered Bridge is a 108-year-old covered Howe Truss built in 1916. The bridge had been in operation with a 5-tonne weight restriction for years in an effort to protect the
structure. Unfortunately, continued use of the bridge by heavier and/or over-sized vehicles has contributed to significant structural damage. As a result, immediate action was taken in mid-July 2024 to close the bridge to all traffic in order to minimize further deterioration and to protect the safety of the travelling public as well as the structure itself.
While I understand it can be an inconvenience and impacts agricultural operations in the area, safety of the public remains a top priority for DTI. A detour around the crossing is available for travelling public. The evaluation of multiple options for this crossing remains in progress. DTI recognizes the impacts of the closure on local agricultural operations and the community, however, decisions regarding this bridge have not yet been made. No repair/rehabilitation work is anticipated before 2025.”
“It’s taking too long,” says Mitton, also acknowledging the larger challenge facing DTI. “We have an infrastructure deficit in our province, and the government at this point is not maintaining all of the bridges and roads it has,” says Mitton. The Wheaton Covered Bridge is “up against other competing priorities, and so I’m working to make sure it stays front and centre,” says Mitton.
