Historic Morrissy Bridge to be torn down

The first bridge built over the Miramichi River in northern New Brunswick will soon disappear into history.

The 94-year-old Morrissy Bridge in Miramichi was closed last month, and its scheduled to be torn down this winter because it is unsafe and too costly to repair, the provincial Department of Transportation says.

The bridge,a key link and a popular landmark, was built in 1914.

William Morrissy, a great-grandson of John Morrissy, theminister of public works for whom the bridge was named, hopes the span can be saved from the wreckers ball.

"There arent too many man-made structures that I can think of in the Miramachi that would have had a bigger impact on the people of the Miramichi than that bridge," Morrissy said.

"I would like to see whether its the municipal government or the provincial government something [done]to maintain the bridge, if possible."

A teenager whowalks across the bridge every day on his way to school, said the trip would take longer once the bridge is gone.

""Now, its just basically longer to get anywhere, and a pretty big inconvenience for most of the people in town," said the teen, who didn't want to be named.

When the Morrissy Bridge officially opened on Nov. 12, 1914, all area school children were given the day off to witness the event. The swing bridge could be opened to allow ships to pass on their way to the pulp mill.

In the late 1990s, the Miramichi Bridge was built 500 metres upstream. It carries two lanes of traffic between Chatham Head and Newcastle.