Temporary bridge open on Pinchgut Brook, Trans Canada Highway

Jim Walsh, Minister of the Department of Works, Services and Transportation, said the Trans Canada Highway west of Corner Brook, in the area of Pinchgut Brook, opened to all traffic last night.

"Around 11:00 p.m. last night we were able to finish installing a bailey bridge at Pinchgut Brook, thereby allowing heavy vehicles, such as buses and transport trucks, to travel over that section of the highway," said Minister Walsh. "We have been working steadily over the past two days to get this bridge installed. This temporary structure is now ready to take traffic and we have placed traffic lights on either side of the bridge to facilitate traffic flow."

Minister Walsh said his department has been doing everything possible to expedite repairs on this section of the Trans Canada Highway, as well as in other areas affected by flooding. "I want to thank all my staff as well as contractors and everyone else who has been working with us to try and get our roads back to normal. They are working under some very trying circumstances," said Minister Walsh. "Aside from this bridge, we have had significant shoulder wash outs in some areas which pose a threat to the public. We are in an emergency situation and need these repairs done immediately. In order to address these serious concerns we have approached contractors directly instead of waiting for two to three week tender calls. Our priority right now is to make our roads safe and to get traffic moving. Our staff have been doing a great job in making that happen very quickly."

A section of the Trans Canada Highway was closed part of Tuesday when the bridge at Pinchgut Brook partially collapsed as a result of high water levels. On Tuesday evening, departmental engineers deemed it safe for light passenger vehicles, such as cars and pick-ups, to use one lane of the bridge.

Minister Walsh said the single-lane bailey bridge will be in place for approximately eight weeks, until the department can replace it with a permanent structure. During this time the department will design the replacement bridge and call tenders for its construction.

"After the tender is awarded, we will install a two-lane bailey bridge to act as a bypass while the permanent structure is being constructed," said Minister Walsh. "This will allow us to keep the Trans Canada open in both directions until the new bridge is finished." Minister Walsh said the estimated cost to replace the collapsed bridge is $750,000 to $1 million. He expects the permanent structure will be finished in September.

Media contact: Lynn Evans, Communications, (709) 729-3015.

2003 04 04                                       9:50 a.m.