Fishermen voted to remove this small P.E.I. bridge for safety reasons, but many want it to stay
Naufrage Harbour bridge too old and too low to navigate safely, says harbour authority
There's a debate happening in a small northeastern P.E.I. community about the future of a century-old bridge that some say is a safety risk, but others consider a piece of history that should be preserved.
A slim majority of fishermen in Naufrage recently voted in favour of removing the 15-metre wooden Bailey bridge that spans the narrow channel into the community's harbour.
Nathan Cheverie, a fisherman and president of the Naufrage Harbour Authority, said the bridge is too low for larger modern fishing boats to pass under when there are larger swells.
"It's a low clearance when we're trying to get in and out of the harbour and it causes issues throughout the season," Cheverie said. "We haven't seen a major catastrophe…. [But] it's not for the faint of heart, that's for sure."
Meanwhile, hundreds of people have signed an online petition that argues replacing the old bridge with a new, higher structure is the way to go.
"This bridge is more than just a structure — it's a piece of our history, our economy, and our way of life," a preamble to the petition stated. "It is also the last remaining crossing of the Old Queen's Road, an important piece of Prince Edward Island's heritage.
"Removing it would sever a historic and necessary connection that has existed for generations."
Wayne MacDonald, who fished out of Naufrage Harbour for many years, said he worries removing the bridge altogether could hurt tourism to the area.
The harbour and nearby beach attract lots of visitors to during the summer, he said, so he thinks the bridge should be replaced and raised.
"If you wanted something on the other side, you'd have to go all the way around, which is pretty inconvenient," MacDonald said.
"I'd like to see a new one put in, raised up four feet or five, whatever they need, which should be convenient for everybody."
According to directions on Google Maps, the driving time from one side of the harbour to the other using Route 16 is about six minutes.
Not considered essential
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, or DFO, is responsible for maintaining bridges and other infrastructure in small craft harbours.
After the Naufrage bridge was damaged by post-tropical storm Fiona, DFO made repairs in the spring of 2023 to keep it operational.
In a statement to CBC News, the agency said the Naufrage bridge is not considered essential to the community's commercial fishery operations.
"There are currently no plans to remove the bridge," the DFO statement reads. "However, given the aging infrastructure, its removal will eventually be required if it is deemed unsafe for use or is damaged in future storms."
The harbour authority is seeking funding to have the bridge removed, in the wake of the fishermen's vote. Cheverie said the expected lifespan of the bridge will be up in about 10 years.
Jerry MacDonald said he can see how the current state of the bridge might be unsafe for boats going in and out of the harbour. But he ultimately thinks it should be replaced and raised instead of removed.
"The bridge is very important to the community. It's been here forever," he said. "I can understand both sides, big time. They need a new bridge, bottom line."
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With files from Connor Lamont