Work on repairing the Hammond River covered bridge at French Village, which has been closed since October of last year after an excavator fell through, has halted after major structural problems were discovered.
Provincial Transportation Minister Bill Fraser says that leaves two options. The first is to tear down the covered bridge and build a new one lane modular bridge where it stood at a cost from $1.7 to $2.5 million and it would be ready for traffic early next year.
The second option is a modular bridge beside the covered bridge would be more expensive and time consuming because there would have to be an environmental impact assessment done and land bought for the approaches to the bridge. Fraser says he has no idea when it would be opened for traffic.
A final decision is expected by the end of next week.
WorkSafe NB is still investigating to determine responsibilty for the excavator crashing through the bridge.
At a public meeting held in Hampton, opinion among those people in attendance was divided on what should be done.
