It’s time to start seriously considering a replacement for the James Street Swing Bridge.
Still closed to vehicle traffic after an?Oct. 29 fire, the bridge provides a vital link between Thunder?Bay and Fort?William First Nation.
While the bridge may re-open to vehicles in coming weeks, it’s about a century old, rickety and at the end of its days.
With the help of the provincial and federal governments, it’s time for the two communities to begin the exploration of what it will take to build a modern span over the Kaministiquia River.
Yes it will cost millions. Tens of millions, if not more, in fact. Isn’t that what our taxpayer dollars are meant to be used for?
What price do we put on the lives of our citizens?
Precious minutes are being lost when emergency crews have to make their way to Fort?William First Nation. Lives are at stake.
Engineers say the James Street Swing Bridge is structurally sound. And for CN trains, they may be right.
But the road deck is a patchwork of metal plates, a disaster waiting to happen.
A modern bridge would alleviate any and all concerns of motorists and improve response times to the reserve. It’s win-win for everyone.
