The Morrissy Bridge is a steel truss bridge crossing the

Miramichi River The Miramichi River is a river located in the east-central part of New Brunswick, Canada. The river drains into Miramichi Bay in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The name may have been derived from the Montagnais words "Maissimeu Assi" (meaning Mi'km ...

Miramichi The name "Miramichi" was first applied to a region in the northeast of New Brunswick, Canada, and has since been applied to other places in Canada and the United States. Although other interpretations have been suggested, it is believed that "Mirami ...

New Brunswick New Brunswick is a Provinces and Territories of Canada, province of Canada, bordering Quebec to the north, Nova Scotia to the east, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence to the northeast, the Bay of Fundy to the southeast, and the U.S. state of Maine to ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

. Construction of Morrissy bridge began in 1913 and was completed and opened in November 1914. Named after Hon.

John Morrissy John Veriker Morrissy (August 13, 1854 – July 31, 1924) was a merchant and political figure in New Brunswick, Canada. He represented Northumberland County in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1888 to 1890 and from 1903 to 191 ...

, the Minister of Public Works, it was hailed as "one of the greatest structures in the province", and provided the first fixed road link between the former town of

Newcastle Newcastle usually refers to: *Newcastle upon Tyne, a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England, United Kingdom *Newcastle-under-Lyme, a town in Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom *Newcastle, New South Wales, a metropolitan area ...

and communities on the south side of the river. The bridge created a new obstacle for navigation, but a swing span in the bridge allowed large vessels to pass. The Morrissy Bridge was badly damaged on 5 November 1971 when the Panamanian registered

Liberty Ship Liberty ships were a ship class, class of cargo ship built in the United States during World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding Program. Although British in concept, the design was adopted by the United States for its simple, low-cost cons ...

''Grand Valor'' struck the second pier of the bridge while departing the Newcastle Wharf with a load of pulpwood. Several heavy trusses were knocked out and the swing span was moved off its bearing pad. Repairs took three weeks and the vessel was arrested and later released. The swing span is no longer used, and the narrow deck of the bridge is now viewed as substandard. The new

Miramichi Bridge The Miramichi Bridge is a steel girder bridge crossing the Miramichi River in Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada. The bridge carries two lanes of highway traffic between Newcastle on the north bank and Chatham Head on the south bank. It opened t ...

completed in 1995 provides a wider, safer crossing only 1 km upstream. It has created a newer, permanent obstacle to upstream navigation. In 2008 the New Brunswick Department of Transportation carried out a detailed structural analysis and concluded that the bridge's steel deck supports had corroded to the point where the bridge was no longer safe for use. The Morrissy Bridge was closed permanently because of safety concerns Friday 12 September 2008. The bridge was to be dismantled, and not be replaced. A coalition of trails enthusiasts opposed the demolition; and in 2010, the ''Miramichi Active Transportation Master Plan'' included the structure in its long range plan, stating: "The Morrissy Bridge is the vital cog in the Miramichi AT Plan. Much like the old train bridge in Fredericton, the Morrissy Bridge is the only really safe option for non-motorists to cross the river. The bridge's site also provides a key connection to downtown commerce and to Ritchie Wharf. Restoration of the bridge for trail users should be the number one priority of the AT Plan." Inaction on the part of the different levels of government has resulted in the bridge remaining unrepaired, officially and physically closed to foot and small vehicle traffic, though the bridge still experiences daily use from pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists and anglers who sidestep the barriers, reportedly due to the bridge's convenient location. Morrissy Bridge Miramichi view East to West

Morrissy Bridge Miramichi view East to West

References

{{coord, 46, 59, 49, N, 65, 33, 31, W, type:landmark, display=title Road bridges in New Brunswick Buildings and structures in Miramichi, New Brunswick Transport in Miramichi, New Brunswick Bridges completed in 1914

See also

References