Nine years after a fire destroyed the Inkerman bridge, a crucial link in the Acadian Peninsula’s trail network, plans are underway for its reconstruction. The project, estimated at $12 million, will be funded by the federal government and the Acadian Peninsula Regional Service Commission. The federal government is contributing $11 million, with an additional $1 million from the regional service commission. The 500-meter bridge over Inkerman Lake, which connected Tracadie and Shippigan, served various recreational users such as walkers, cyclists, snowmobilers, and ATV riders. The destruction of the bridge in 2017 disrupted the community and impeded the Véloroute Péninsule Acadienne network.
The Véloroute, a network of over 600 km of trails along the Acadian Peninsula coast, saw approximately 70 km paved in 2018, linking multiple municipalities and businesses. Following the fire, residents had to detour onto Highway 113 in Inkerman, raising concerns about road safety. In a recent announcement, Serge Cormier, the local MP, revealed the long-awaited funding to around 300 residents, including cyclists, who have advocated for the bridge’s reconstruction for nearly a decade.
A local group, the bridge committee, raised around $5 million through fundraising efforts, part of which was used to create new trails. The federal government only received a funding request last year, despite the bridge’s destruction almost a decade ago. While the federal government and regional service commission have committed $12 million, the province is yet to confirm its funding contribution for the remaining $6 million needed for the project.
The rebuild will feature a new 500-meter bridge constructed from a non-wood material to prevent a future fire incident. The trail, catering to walkers, cyclists, ATVs, and snowmobiles, is expected to boost the region’s tourism economy. The exact construction timeline is yet to be determined to allow local companies to participate in the bidding process.