116-year-old New Brunswick covered bridge closed after car crash

A motor vehicle crash closed a covered bridge in Rusagonis, N.B., on Wednesday.

One of New Brunswick’s historic covered bridges is closed to traffic after a car crash.

Oromocto Fire Department Assistant Deputy Chief Gerry Poirier said the single-vehicle crash happened on the Patrick Owens Covered Bridge in Rusagonis, N.B., around 2:30 p.m. Monday.

Poirier said the lone occupant of the vehicle suffered minor injuries.

Jacob MacDonald, a spokesperson for the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, said staff have been on-site this week assessing damage to the 116-year-old bridge.

“It will remain closed until the investigation is complete,” said MacDonald in an email.

The 72-metre-long covered bridge was built in 1909 and is located roughly 15 kilometres southwest of Oromocto, N.B.

Poirier said, from an operational standpoint, emergency response times in the area won’t change due to the closure.

“This closure does not impact out response. We don’t utilize the bridge,” said Poirier.

According to MacDonald, the bridge had its housing and roofing refurbished in 2023-24 and its timber deck was replaced in 2020-21.

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