Residents demand government speed-up replacing Cherryvale Bridge

CHERRYVALE, NB – Cherryvale area residents want to know why its taking the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure so long to replace an essential covered bridge that washed out more than a year ago.

Perry Black lives in Canaan Forks. He says residents tried to set up a meeting with the government shortly after the bridge washed away in April, 2014.

“We put a package together to give to government with 23 pages concerning our worries and our concerns,” he said, noting meetings were delayed and then cancelled.

“That’s bothersome because every community has their needs and wants but we just want a chance to explain the impact on the community and our residents,” he said.

Since the bridge washed away, residents have been forced to take long detours. Others are also worried about becoming stranded if flooding increases in the area.

Jim Beck partly blames clear-cutting near the Canaan River for more floods.

“The water is coming in faster than the river can take it out so yes there’s going to be floods,’ he said.

The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure says no decision has been made on the file at this time.