Many often flock to New Brunswick’s historic covered bridges whenever motorists or Mother Nature take their toll.
“It’s almost like a funeral procession — when you go to the bridge when the bridge is destroyed, the cars and the people are all there,” explained Bob Alston, a retired tourism official with Sussex County.
“They’re all talking and they have their memories of what they did and what went on at the bridge at the time.”
The Plumweseep Covered Bridge is the latest to get a dose of such attention. In January, the historic site near Sussex was closed following a single-vehicle collision. Its structural integrity was compromised and the bridge is now undergoing much-needed repairs.
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Local residents have been told it could take up to two months to complete the repairs on the covered bridge. Those cut off by the closure are now dealing with a 14-kilometre commute just to get to the Trans-Canada highway.
While motorists are driving around the closed bridge, fewer customers are shopping at the Penobsquis Corner Gas and Service Centre.
“It brings them to Irving and I don’t blame them — they will stop there and get their products there,” said store owner Denis Poirier.
Poirier is also concerned about whether the bridge will be reopened in time for the busy May long weekend, which often brings tourists to the area.
“We have five campgrounds in the area and cyclists use this for cycling around the loop,” Poirier said. “Also people like to travel the back roads more than the Trans-Canada.”