Nearly a decade following a fire that destroyed an essential component of the recreational trail system in the Acadian Peninsula, plans are underway to reconstruct the Inkerman bridge with a substantial $12 million in funding from the federal government and the Acadian Peninsula Regional Service Commission. The federal government has allocated $11 million, while the regional service commission has pledged an additional $1 million, though the province has not yet committed any funding.
The bridge, spanning nearly 500 meters over Inkerman Lake, formerly linked Tracadie and Shippigan, serving as a route for pedestrians, cyclists, snowmobilers, and ATV riders. Its destruction in 2017 not only physically divided the region but also disrupted the sense of community. According to Danielle Savoie, chair of the board for the Véloroute Péninsule Acadienne, the devastation caused by the fire severed the Véloroute, impacting a network of over 600 km of trails connecting coastal communities from Neguac to Lamèque and Rivière-du-Nord.
Residents have been forced to detour onto Highway 113 since the fire, raising concerns about road safety. A community gathering in Inkerman, attended by about 300 residents, witnessed the announcement of the long-awaited funding by Serge Cormier, the local Member of Parliament. Cormier expressed relief at the funding approval after years of effort, acknowledging the persistence of various groups in pushing for the bridge’s reconstruction.
A portion of the funding will come from a local group, the bridge committee, which raised approximately $5 million through fundraising activities, including Chase the Ace lotteries. Despite delays in progress, the federal government only received a funding request last year, nine years after the bridge’s destruction.
The rebuild project, which is estimated to cost $18 million, is expected to incorporate a new 500-meter bridge made from a non-wood material to prevent a repeat of the 2017 fire incident. While the federal government and regional service commission have committed $12 million, Cormier is optimistic that the province will contribute the remaining $6 million to complete the project.
The revitalized bridge is anticipated to cater to various recreational activities, including ATV and snowmobile use during the winter months, with a focus on accommodating walkers and cyclists throughout the rest of the year. The reconstruction aims to not only restore the trail network but also support the burgeoning cyclist tourism economy in northern New Brunswick. Construction timelines have not been specified, but the project aims to involve local companies in the bidding process to enhance regional economic opportunities.