Government needs to address gap left with removal of bridges on northern peninsula

With the announcement earlier today that government has removed bridges on the northern peninsula, many questions remain from local residents about the gap that exists to access a local cemetery on the other side that is being used by families in the area, says Marshall Dean, MHA-elect for the Straits-White Bay North.

The bridges that were removed were used for many years by local residents and families to access a cemetery that contains the remains of loved ones. There are still several people in the area who wish to be buried in the cemetery and others who want to visit and maintain gravesites of relatives. With the removal of the bridges and no plan for replacement, there is growing concern that family members will no longer be able to visit their deceased loved ones.

“This is a very emotional issue for many people who live in this area of the northern peninsula,” said Mr. Dean. “While government looked strictly at the safety factor of removing these structures, they certainly didn’t consider the emotional attachment that many residents had to the cemetery on the other side. For years, the bridges were maintained by the province and there was no indication that they would be removed. Unfortunately, government has not indicated that they have any plans to establish any replacement structures in the area and this is having an impact on local residents who wish to access the cemetery.

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