Springville Bridge closure continues to be a concern

The recent closure of the Springville Bridge continues to be a concern for the local community, says County Coun. Andy Thompson.

He said the bridge was a topic discussion at a recent gathering in the area and people are hoping the outcome will be a positive one for the community.

The Springville Bridge was closed this spring because it was in need of repairs.

Pictou East MLA Tim Houston recently questioned Nova Scotia Transportation Minister Lloyd Hines on the status of the repairs, but no firm timeline was given.

“In Nova Scotia, as I’ve said in the House before, being an old province, we do have an old highway network. We’re also subject to changing traffic and settlement patterns over time. I will say that we have a huge increase in our capital budget this year, including the amounts allocated for bridges, and that would apply to that particular bridge also,” said Hines.

Houston continued to press the minister in hopes of getting a firm answer on whether the bridge would reopen, but Hines said the province is currently reviewing its entire bridge process.

“We’re looking for what you might call more practical solutions to low-volume, short-span opportunities to see if we can find a way of doing this in a more costeffective manner and provide the transportation networks that the people are used to, particularly in our rural areas,” said Hines.