THUNDER BAY -- A consulting firm retained by CN following a fire on the James Street Swing Bridge found the damages to be “limited.”
That’s the claim in the city’s suit against the railway company as revealed by recently obtained court documents.
The city’s notice of application outlines its case that CN is responsible to maintain “in perpetuity a combined railway and highway bridge in the City of Thunder Bay known as the James Street Swing Bridge.”
The court documents outline the 1905 agreement, highlight the obligations in maintain the bridge to current standards and regulations, and adds that “standards and regulations as they evolve over time.”
As for the city’s take on the bridge closure, the claim reads as follows:
“On October 29, 2013 a fire occurred on the Bridge. CN immediately closed the Bridge to all traffic, but reopened it for rail traffic on November, 1, 2013, only three days after the fire. A consulting firm retained by CN (AECOM Canada Ltd.) found that the fire damage to the Bridge was “limited.” Nonetheless, CN has chosen no to undertake any necessary repairs to the Bridge, and has kept the Bridge closed to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic.”
Officials from CN have been contacted by Dougall Media but were not immediately available to make comment.
