‘Crumbling’ Trans-Canada Trail structures in Nfld closed

ST. JOHN’S — The government of Newfoundland shut down all bridges, trestles, and overpasses along the part of the Trans-Canada Trail between St. John’s to Port aux Basques.

Parts of the trail are used by the province’s commercial logging truckers, but the trail is primarily used by hikers and atv’rs.

According to Canadian Press, Transport Canada warned weeks ago that some of the structures are on the brink of crumbling and pose “an unreasonable life-safety risk.”

Engineers are still busy inspecting all bridges and along the Newfoundland portion of the Trans-Canada Trail.

In a letter to the province last week, Dan Shea, Transport Canada’s navigable waters protection manager, said many of the structures being examined have “not been maintained.” He said that “some will likely fall into waterways in the very near future.”

Shea cited rust, erosion, structural issues, and ice-damaged piers, as just some of the problems found.

CP reports that Transport Canada has requested the province submit a plan within 30 days outlining how it will repair or remove the structures in the worst shape.

Environment Minister Charlene Johnson said yesterday that she’s consider the possibility of the province conducting routine inspections. According to CP, however, Johnson didn’t seem to think the structures are deteriorated to the extent Transport Canada portrayed.

Conditions of bridges and overpasses across Canada have been getting more attention lately.

In 2006, a highway overpass collapsed in Laval, Que., killing five people. An inquiry into the incident found that the foundations of the structure were severely deteriorated.

— with files from Canadian Press