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News
Release |
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MHA Butler pushes for temporary bridge on
Route 70
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MHA for the District of Port de Grave, Roland Butler, says that in the interest of restoring business activity along Route 70, government should erect a temporary bridge to replace the bridge structure permanently damaged by the recent post-tropical storm hitting the area. The Liberal MHA says businesses along the route from Bay Roberts to Spaniard=s Bay have experienced a huge decline in their business operations, some as much as 70 per cent as a result of the traffic being diverted to Spaniards Bay due to the bridge closure. Other businesses have announced that they have closed down operations until further notice. AThis is certainly not an acceptable situation for those business people who have worked long and hard to build up their enterprises,@ says Butler. AGovernment needs to be more sensitive to this issue as they consider the various options until a new bridge is designed and built.@ Butler says he has been in discussions with the Department of Transportation and Works officials to examine the options following the decision to permanently close the existing bridge rather than repairing it. He points out that government is considering two choices, including rebuilding Muddy Hole Road which would swing traffic around Shearstown. The second option involves erecting a temporary bridge next to the condemned structure. ASince both of these options have been estimated to cost about a 1/4 million dollars each, the second option is the one that makes the most sense as it will ensure that flow of traffic is restored to its original route and businesses along that road can get back to their daily operations. AThe word is that the design work and tendering for the new bridge will take close to two months and then a 3 month construction phase. The temporary steel structures are now in inventory and one should be erected as soon as possible next to the washed-out bridge. AOur district is trying hard to recover from the devastating effects of the storm and restoring normal business activity is an important step in ensuring we are moving forward."
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