‘Our only route in or out’: N.B. residents concerned about weight restriction on rural bridge

Heavy vehicles can no longer cross Peck’s Cove Bridge in southeast New Brunswick.

The Peck’s Cove Bridge near Rockport, N.B. is tucked away in the very southeast corner of the province, and it has seen better days.

The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DTI) recently restricted its weight load of 43.5 tonnes down to 20 tonnes due to its deteriorated condition.

Tantramar Mayor Andrew Black said that means in case of an emergency, heavy fire trucks wouldn’t be able to get to people who live on the other side.

There’s no detour currently in place, but DTI spokesperson Jacob MacDonald said they’ve reached out to the local fire department to discuss how emergency vehicles could get to the eight to ten homes in the area.

“That’s a major concern to people who live on the other side of the bridge. We do have our own plan for fire suppression. it’s not perfect, but at least it’s something to alleviate fears,” said Black.

The people who do live on the other side of the bridge are worried what would happen if there was a structure fire in the rural area.

“If a fire does start here, that is our only route in or out,” said Ted Tompkins, who lives a few kilometres away. “If the bridge fails, what are we to do?”

MacDonald said a tender for repair work or replacement for the bridge is expected for 2028.

“Although DTI is currently reviewing options to tender at an earlier date,” said MacDonald.

Also a concern for the few residents in the Rockport area are the dry conditions and the possibility of a forest fire.

On Tuesday, the Province of Nova Scotia banned hiking and other activities in the woods due to the risk of wildfires.

“Everything is crisp and dry,” said Tompkins. “You understand what Nova Scotia just did, I heard it on the news. Well, it’s no different here.”

Tompkins’ neighbour Crow Robichaud lives about a kilometre up the dirt and gravel road.

“If you look at Nova Scotia the same thing is happening there. It’s tinder dry, there’s been no rain. You crunch through the woods,” said Robichaud.

There are fire pits near a beach not far from where Robichaud lives and she believes the province should ban fires in the area because of the fear of what might happen if fire trucks can’t reach them.

“Fire service is something that you need. Your insurance wants you to have it obviously. So insurance rates are going to sky rocket for people that live down here,” said Robichaud.

Black said the municipality asked the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for a fire ban in the Rockport area.

“We had sent a letter to the administrator of DNR asking for an on-going fire ban on the other side of the bridge. That was denied, but the province has a plan of action in case something were to happen, if a wildfire were to spread for example,” said Black.

There are other issues as well.

Black said concrete trucks can’t get across for any construction projects and sewage removal for people on septic tank systems is also an issue.

“There has been a work around, but again, it’s not perfect,” said Black.

Black said the municipality found out about the weight restriction a few months ago, but after the fact.

“This happened with the Wheaton Covered Bridge. It happened with the closure of the road to Dorchester. We were informed after those events happened which is really not a way to communicate with an order of government,” said Black.

The bridge restoration or replacement project remains in the planning stage, so the magnitude of the work and an estimated cost are not yet known.

“The bridge is located along a coastal road, which is prone to flooding from sea level rise and this will be kept in mind as options for work are considered,” said MacDonald.

Lighter snowplow trucks can be utilized, MacDonald said, so plows will be able to cross the Peck’s Cove Bridge during the winter.

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