Crews return to rectify bridge - city

In wake of bumpy conditions and public complaints about Princess Margaret Bridge resurfacing job, provincial crews will be back at work on span Thursday and Friday

After several days of cars bouncing across the Princess Margaret Bridge and complaints aplenty on social media, the provincial government is sending work crews out a second time to fix it again.

But it wasn’t the province that announced the additional work, but rather the City of Fredericton, despite the fact the municipality isn’t responsible for bridge maintenance.

The Princess Margaret Bridge, connecting the Lower St. Mary’s and Forest Hill neighbourhoods on the north and south sides of the St. John River, respectively, was reduced to one lane last week as road crews contracted by the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure resurfaced and paved the span.

But when the bridge reopened last weekend, it was immediately noticeable that the road surface was more elevated, making for a much bumpier crossing when vehicles went over the lower expansion joints.

The Princess Margaret Bridge (Photo: Facebook/City of Fredericton)

The Fredericton Independent reported on the situation Tuesday, and the department, in a brief statement, said officials were going to assess the bridge to determine if further steps had to be taken.

The Independent asked a Transportation and Infrastructure spokesperson to advise if any further action would be taken to mitigate the situation. The department didn’t respond.

But late Wednesday afternoon, the City of Fredericton announced on social media that work was going to resume on the Princess Margaret.

“Provincial crews will be out completing additional maintenance along the Princess Margaret Bridge beginning tomorrow [Thursday] until Friday,” the city said in posts on Facebook and X.

“Crews are expected to be working from 9 a.m. to early evening and the bridge will be reduced to one lane. This will impact your commute so please plan your route in advance.”

The province issued no news release, public advisory or social-media alert on the renewed work Wednesday or anticipated traffic delays, nor did the department update the Fredericton Independent on its inquiry.

The poorer state of the bridge was the focus of many complaints and criticisms in the community since it reopened late last week.

Fredericton resident James Gallagher commented on the Independent’s original story about how the more pronounced dips at the expansion joints created a real hazard for himself and other motorists.

“I have crossed the [bridge] dozens of times in the past hauling my utility trailer without incident,” he wrote Tuesday evening.

“Yesterday the impact was so violent that a ramp came off in the middle of the bridge, creating a potential traffic problem. In order to retrieve the ramp, my friend and I put ourselves at great risk.”

Don MacPherson can be contacted at ftonindependent@gmail.com.