Spaniard’s Bay bridge damaged by excavator

By Olivia Bradbury / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Town of Spaniard’s Bay has acknowledged responsibility for damage done to a trailway bridge this past winter.
Councillor Sherry Lundrigan raised the issue at council’s March 18 public meeting.
Lundrigan said she has been contacted by a member of the trailway committee who sent photos of the damaged bridge at Northern Cove Pond.
The damage occurred when a Town excavator was driven over the bridge to another area of town where work needed to be done. This is not proper procedure in the town. Vehicles with mechanical treads instead of rubber tires are supposed to be transported to and from worksites by trailer, not driven over pavement or bridges.
“The trailer was there over on the other side of the bridge, so I don’t know why that happened,” said Lundrigan. “It was an accident, but it was an accident that should never have happened, because the equipment should not be anywhere near the bridge or trailways unless we’re doing work, and there was no work being performed on that bridge that day. It was just being driven over the bridge and that’s when all the damage happened.”
Lundrigan said the trailway committee raises money to maintain the trails, and it is upsetting and disheartening for its members to know a piece of Town equipment caused needless damage to the bridge.
Mayor Paul Brazil noted that from the photo of the damage it looks like some of the bridge’s guard planks were scratched. It will take some work to fix the damage, but it is aesthetic damage and should not affect the bridge’s integrity, he said.
Lundrigan made a motion that council contact the trailway committee to see if it would like the Town to fix the damage or make a monetary donation.
“We acknowledge our responsibility for it,” said Mayor Brazil, suggesting a donation towards the next project might compensate for the damage done.
Deputy Mayor Tammy Oliver seconded Lundrigan’s motion, which passed unanimously.