Harbour Grace council welcomes replacement of Bannerman Bridge

By Olivia Bradbury / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Town of Harbour Grace will cross a new bridge later this year. At the town’s council meeting March 3, Deputy Mayor Keith Skinner, who chairs the public works committee, reported that Bannerman Bridge will be replaced this summer.

The cost of the project is being borne by the provincial government. 

Skinner said the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture, and the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, will prepare a contract for the removal and replacement of the bridge. 

Bannerman Bridge is the responsibility of the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, not the Town of Harbour Grace, thus the project will be of no cost to Harbour Grace taxpayers. 

“It would have been a very expensive venture, and I don’t know how we would have done it,” said Mayor Don Coombs. 

Harbour Grace will take over responsibility for the bridge once the department completes the work.

Skinner made a motion for council to write the provincial departments advising that the Town looks forward to taking over the bridge based on the conditions of the proposal. It was seconded by councillor Lee Rogers and passed unanimously.

Councillor Gordon Stone said a lot of hard work has gone into the bridge project and it is something to be celebrated. “Good things come out of just some hard work and good planning,” he said.

Stone added the Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade had experienced issues crossing Bannerman Bridge when responding to calls. 

“Our fire department, being as caring as they are, were concerned that they weren’t going to be able to help if the need was there,” Stone said. 

Once the bridge is replaced, that concern will be rectified. 

“Now they, of course, don’t need to worry about that anymore,” said Stone. “They can just continue to put their good service to service.”