Construction is set to begin on the Vaughan Creek Covered Bridge replacement in St. Martins, according to provincial transportation officials.
The 86-year-old bridge has been closed for several years after being deemed unsafe for vehicle traffic.
A temporary, modular bridge was installed alongside it to allow traffic to continue to flow through the community.
The new crossing will be a modern bridge with a wooden housing, mimicking the look of a covered bridge and allowing for larger vehicles like tour buses.
“These improvements to the Vaughan Creek crossing will pay tribute to the original bridge’s historic character, improve safety, and provide many years of use by locals and visitors,” Tourism, Heritage and Culture Minister Tammy Scott-Wallace said in a news release.
The new 32-metre bridge is expected to open in the summer of 2022, according to the release.
A spokesperson for the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure told our newsroom earlier this year that the total project cost is estimated to be between $3 million and $4 million.
