A CN Rail official says they don't want to see a blockade of the James Street Swing Bridge.
"No one wants a blockade," said Lindsay Fedchyshyn, CN Rail regional manager.
"We understand the community's frustration with the bridge being closed but safety remains our number one priority."
At a meeting Monday evening, former Fort William First Nation chief Peter Collins said it was time to consider a blockade of rail traffic over the bridge that's been closed since Oct. 29 after a major fire damaged the structure.
Collins said it was time to take action because the community members are not getting the answers they need on the future of the bridge.
Walter Bannon said at Monday's meeting that businesses on Fort William First Nation are losing a combined $50,000 a day, more than $5.2 million since the suspicious fire closed the bridge.
Fedchyshyn said the engineering team is still working on the assessment of the bridge and consultants are working on it.
"We're expecting the recommendations from that study to be available for our engineers to review within the next month or so," she said, adding the engineers need that study before moving forward with a decision about the bridge's future.
"We do value our relationship with (Chief Georjann Morriseau). I know my colleagues on the team who have been speaking with her are doing their best to keep her updated," said Fedchyshyn.
"There will be ongoing communication."
--with files from CKPR
