‘It is not going to be safe to cross that bridge’

Recent resurfacing work on Princess Margaret Bridge has made for bumpier conditions at expansion joints, and businessman warns of wear, tear on Fredericton span, vehicles

A Fredericton businessman is seriously concerned about what recent work on a Fredericton bridge might do to his fleet of vehicles and equipment, and how it could severely damage the bridge itself.

The Princess Margaret Bridge, which falls under the responsibility of the provincial Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, was closed to one lane last week as road crews worked on a resurfacing project on the key link between the north and south sides of Fredericton.

When it reopened late last week, it was immediately noticeable that the dips at the bridge’s expansion joints - the teeth-like connections between sections of the bridge - were significantly deeper than before, making for a bumpier trip across the St. John River.

Vehicles bounce over dips at the expansion joints in the Princess Margaret Bridge recently. (Photo: Screencap from Matthew David Gorveatte Photography video)

Capital-region residents took to social media to express their dissatisfaction, though many erroneously placed the blame on the City of Fredericton, given the location of the bridge.

Professional photographer Matthew David Gorveatte posted video on Facebook on Sunday of traffic being rocked as each vehicle crossed over expansion joints, and within two days, it had been shared more than 150 times.

Ed Budovich, owner of Ed Bud’s Sales, is among those who aren’t pleased with the state of the bridge now. He said it appears paving work last week on the Princess Margaret created problems rather than improving the state of the span.

Food-delivery, including refrigerated transport, is a major part of his business, he said, and he’s directed his drivers to avoid the bridge altogether.

He has five tractor-trailers and other pieces of equipment in his fleet, he said Tuesday, and he fears what those deeper bumps will do to his gear.

“They’re just pounding their front ends to death,” Budovich told the Fredericton Independent.

He said he doesn’t think people should even drive regular vehicles over the bridge, given the bumps.

While it’s likely the recent work on the bridge was carried out by a private-sector contractor, he said, it’s the provincial transportation department that needs to take ownership of the misstep.

“Somebody had to approve it,” Budovich said.

A spokesperson with Transportation and Infrastructure didn’t respond to an inquiry about whether the department had received complaints about the bumpier state of the bridge, but he did acknowledge the purpose of the paving project and that officials are looking at the situation.

“The Princess Margaret Bridge paving, which was completed last week, included patch work to address rutting, potholes, and transitions to expansion joints,” communications officer Tyler McLean wrote in an email to the Independent.

“The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure is assessing the situation to determine if any potential next steps are required.”

Video: Matthew David Gorveatte Photography

The City of Fredericton has fielded some calls about the issue even though it’s not responsible, a spokesperson said, which isn’t unusual.

“The city often receives questions related to provincial roadwork,” Fredericton communications strategist Shasta Stairs wrote in an email. 

“Any comments the city has received related to the recent work on the Princess Margaret Bridge have been directed to the province for their awareness.”

Budovich said the issue is more serious than the potential damage that could be done to heavy vehicles or even regular passenger cars.

“I’m no engineer,” he said, but he’s worried that the greater impacts vehicles are having on the bridge itself from the deeper dips could cause real damage to the structure.

Furthermore, he said, winter isn’t too far off, and plowing the bridge properly will be a challenge with those deeper gulleys at the expansion joints.

“It is not going to be safe to cross that bridge,” Budovich said.

Something has to be done about the problem and soon, he said.

Budovich was also puzzled how something like this could happen at a time when the province can afford to ensure such projects are done properly.

“Listen, we have a billion-dollar surplus,” he said. “Spend a little now, save a lot later.”

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