Gunningsville Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Gunningsville Bridge has been a name given to five different bridges that crossed the Petitcodiac River
between Moncton and Riverview
, New Brunswick
, Canada
. The latest Gunningsville Bridge opened on November 19, 2005. This is one of 2 links that cross the Petitcodiac River
from Moncton to Riverview
the other is the Petitcodiac Causway.
The first bridge, constructed in 1864, was damaged severely by the Saxby Gale
in 1869. The second bridge, opened in 1873 and was under repair when a storm destroyed three of its spans in 1891. A third bridge replaced it, and closed in 1915.
The fourth Gunningsville Bridge (now known as the "old" bridge), was completed on January 27, 1917. This bridge had a long history of accidents. In a 1929 freak accident, a river scow
named the Mayflower lost control due to the strong tidal bore
on the river, and it crashed into the bridge. Its cargo of lumber was lost and two men drowned.
In recent years, trucks, trailers and buses were banned from using the bridge as it had been built during the latter days of the horse and buggy
era and was unable to accommodate larger vehicles. It was a regular occurrence for vehicles to lose their side mirrors against the bridge pillars. Buses
were accommodated by having an attendant stop traffic for a few minutes in one direction to allow them to cross. Area residents demanded a new, wider bridge, and construction finally began in 2002 when structural evaluations indicated that repairing the structure would be too costly.
The new four-lane Gunningsville Bridge, opened in 2005, has dramatically improved access between downtown Riverview
and Moncton. The old bridge has been demolished.
Petitcodiac River
The Petitcodiac River is a Canadian river in south-eastern New Brunswick. The river runs about through the province's Westmorland, Albert, and Kings counties, draining a watershed area of about . The region around the river features valleys, ridges, and rolling hills, and is home to a diverse...
between Moncton and Riverview
Riverview, New Brunswick
Riverview is a Canadian town in Albert County, New Brunswick, Canada.Riverview is located on the south side of the Petitcodiac River, across from the cities of Moncton and Dieppe. Riverview has an area of , and a population density of...
, New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The latest Gunningsville Bridge opened on November 19, 2005. This is one of 2 links that cross the Petitcodiac River
Petitcodiac River
The Petitcodiac River is a Canadian river in south-eastern New Brunswick. The river runs about through the province's Westmorland, Albert, and Kings counties, draining a watershed area of about . The region around the river features valleys, ridges, and rolling hills, and is home to a diverse...
from Moncton to Riverview
Riverview, New Brunswick
Riverview is a Canadian town in Albert County, New Brunswick, Canada.Riverview is located on the south side of the Petitcodiac River, across from the cities of Moncton and Dieppe. Riverview has an area of , and a population density of...
the other is the Petitcodiac Causway.
The first bridge, constructed in 1864, was damaged severely by the Saxby Gale
1869 Saxby Gale
The Saxby Gale was the name given to a tropical cyclone which struck eastern Canada's Bay of Fundy region on the night of October 4-5, 1869. The storm was named for Lieutenant Stephen Martin Saxby, a naval instructor and amateur astronomer who, based on his astronomical studies, had predicted...
in 1869. The second bridge, opened in 1873 and was under repair when a storm destroyed three of its spans in 1891. A third bridge replaced it, and closed in 1915.
The fourth Gunningsville Bridge (now known as the "old" bridge), was completed on January 27, 1917. This bridge had a long history of accidents. In a 1929 freak accident, a river scow
Scow
A scow, in the original sense, is a flat-bottomed boat with a blunt bow, often used to haul bulk freight; cf. barge. The etymology of the word is from the Dutch schouwe, meaning such a boat.-Sailing scows:...
named the Mayflower lost control due to the strong tidal bore
Tidal bore
A tidal bore is a tidal phenomenon in which the leading edge of the incoming tide forms a wave of water that travel up a river or narrow bay against the direction of the river or bay's current...
on the river, and it crashed into the bridge. Its cargo of lumber was lost and two men drowned.
In recent years, trucks, trailers and buses were banned from using the bridge as it had been built during the latter days of the horse and buggy
Horse and buggy
A horse and buggy or horse and carriage refers to a light, simple, two-person carriage of the late 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, drawn usually by one or sometimes by two horses...
era and was unable to accommodate larger vehicles. It was a regular occurrence for vehicles to lose their side mirrors against the bridge pillars. Buses
Codiac Transit
The Codiac Transit Commission operates the public transit system on behalf of the City of Moncton, City of Dieppe and Town of Riverview in the Province of New Brunswick, Canada.....
were accommodated by having an attendant stop traffic for a few minutes in one direction to allow them to cross. Area residents demanded a new, wider bridge, and construction finally began in 2002 when structural evaluations indicated that repairing the structure would be too costly.
The new four-lane Gunningsville Bridge, opened in 2005, has dramatically improved access between downtown Riverview
Riverview, New Brunswick
Riverview is a Canadian town in Albert County, New Brunswick, Canada.Riverview is located on the south side of the Petitcodiac River, across from the cities of Moncton and Dieppe. Riverview has an area of , and a population density of...
and Moncton. The old bridge has been demolished.
External links
- Paper about aesthetic and design elements used in the new bridge.