Photo by Photo submitted
PLAYFULLY STANDING GUARD FOR THE BRIDGE – A celebration was held on the ice by the Ross River Suspension Bridge last weekend. Curling, camping, hockey and other activities were on the agenda. Photo by JENNIFER FROEHLING/FRIENDS OF THE ROSS RIVER FOOT BRIDGE FACEBOOK PAGE
Premier Darrell Pasloski is sending his two most senior staff members this afternoon to meet with the Ross River Dena Council to discuss the future of the Ross River Suspension Bridge.
Premier Darrell Pasloski is sending his two most senior staff members this afternoon to meet with the Ross River Dena Council to discuss the future of the Ross River Suspension Bridge.
Principal secretary Gordon Steele and chief of staff Rick Nielsen were scheduled to fly to the community for a meeting later today, cabinet communications spokeswoman Elaine Schiman said this morning.
Schiman acknowledged the government's last official word was that the bridge must come down, as was emphasized last week by Community Services Minister Brad Cathers.
The minister issued the decree after a government demolition crew was turned away from the site by members of the Ross River community who insist they will not let the government tear down their beloved bridge and historical icon.
Cathers indicated the structure must come down, but that the government would issue a tender this spring to assess the cost of full restoration of the original bridge once it was on the ground.
Schiman said the decision by the premier to dispatch the envoy only means at this point the government wants to hear directly what the Ross River Dena Council has to say on the matter.
It does not mean the door is open today to options other than removal, she insisted.
"As you know, there are plans to go ahead with demolition of the bridge but there are community concerns about that,” Schiman said.
"The idea of the meeting is to hear what the community has to say, particularly the Ross River Dena Council.”
She said before the Yukon government says anything more on the subject, it will wait to see what comes out of the meeting.
The proposal for demolition of the 70-year-old bridge has been met with a barrage of resistance, from Ross River to Ottawa, home of the national charity which lobbies for protection of significant pieces of Canadian history.
Heritage Canada The National Trust sent a letter to Cathers earlier this month to ask that he halt demolition plans so more time could be given to look at options for the preservation of the suspension bridge.
It was noted in the letter the bridge was built to support the crossing of the Canol pipeline, which was laid to supply the Allied war effort during the Second World War.
Not only is the bridge a unique tie to the Yukon's involvement in the Second World War, many have argued, but it's also the longest suspension footbridge in Canada and the U.S., others have pointed out.
It's been said for the people of Ross River, the bridge has become part of their community and is culturally significant, as it provides the only year-round link to traditional Kaska sites on the other side of the Pelly River.
The suspension bridge was built in 1944.
An engineering assessment commissioned in 2012 by the government suggested the bridge is in desperate need of repair.
The bridge was closed to foot traffic that summer.
A subsequent engineering assessment in September 2013 said the structure is a risky hazard that could collapse at any time – and should come down immediately.
A follow-up report said the best option is to demolish the bridge and build a new one at a cost of $4.5 million.
Others, however, have argued the bridge can be stabilized and made safe for public use at far less than the cost of demolition and replacement.
Chief Brian Ladue of the Ross River Dena Council has not been available to the Star to discuss the council's position on the bridge.
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Comments (17)
Up 5 Down 2
Just Say'in on Mar 26, 2014 at 1:54 pm
We will be replacing a lot of bridges and infrastructure over water in the next few years at a great expense, and not because they don't want to do maintenance, but because it is nearly impossible and prohibitively expensive. The enviro terrorists have made it impossible to sand blast and paint over the water. They use to paint and maintain on a regular basis but it is now impossible and they are changed to concrete bridges. Remember the good old days when we could just maintain and fix things?
Up 4 Down 5
Just Say'in on Mar 26, 2014 at 1:39 pm
If they are a Nation why don't they fix their own D@$#& bridge?
Up 7 Down 6
mugs yukon on Mar 25, 2014 at 8:23 am
Maybe this generation should revisit their heritage and figure out how to use their land the way their ancestors did, get a boat and a sled dog team to reach the traditional land.
Up 15 Down 12
Groucho d'North on Mar 22, 2014 at 2:05 am
Harken back a few years to when the old rotten Carcross footbridge needed to be removed to maintain public safety. Similar historic significance for the community and desire to keep it.
Yet today a new, safer and much more useable bridge stands in its place and residents are getting better value from it.
I'm getting the sense that this is not about a bridge, but rather its a contest of wills between government and what the public thinks it wants.
I'm siding with government on this one.
Up 13 Down 1
Brian W. Hemsley on Mar 21, 2014 at 12:35 pm
@mugs They lived on the other side before the bridge.
Up 21 Down 14
Mugs Yukon on Mar 21, 2014 at 4:04 am
So the military built a bridge 70 years ago to cross a river. How did the Kaska get to their traditional land before the bridge was built?
Up 26 Down 7
CJ on Mar 20, 2014 at 11:44 am
I like Robert Wills point about neglect. The Yukon has a sorry attitude about operations and maintenance, just letting things deteriorate instead of looking after them in the first place, striving ever for the shiny and new.
It's also sad to see public attitudes towards preservation of historical features become so callow.
Up 26 Down 10
Trevor Braun on Mar 20, 2014 at 7:16 am
Things do cost money and in the end someone needs to pay for things. The bridge has a value. If it gets taken down it has no value. In the interm it should be stabilized- which from my understanding of reading the Engineer Reports could be done affordably and pretty straight foward. Get it stabilized so further damage does not result and then figure out how to fix it and where the money is going to come from. YTG had already budgeted a significant amount and have let out a Contract for $170 000 to take it down. That amount could be used to get it stabilized so a long term plan could then be made. If YTG does not want to pay for repair or replacement at least others would have a chance to fundraise or find the money elsewhere. We have far too many Historical treasures that are being abandoned.
Up 31 Down 8
FCO on Mar 20, 2014 at 5:20 am
The Premier's behavior continues to burn yet more bridges with Yukons First Nations.
Up 23 Down 20
Frank on Mar 19, 2014 at 11:53 am
We cannot afford a new bridge.
If people want to block it then let it sit there until it falls into the river.
If the community wants to raise $4.5 million which will likely be ten million by the time it's done they can knock themselves out.
And really, something from the era of WWII is so historical- that is a stretch.
Up 16 Down 28
Brice Carruthers on Mar 19, 2014 at 5:22 am
Why on God's green earth should we spend $4.5 million on a new bridge or even $1 million to make the old bridge last 5 more years? I do not want one penny of my tax dollars going to them. If we give them money to protect their precious little bridge, it better come with many concessions and strings attached.
Up 29 Down 11
robert wills on Mar 19, 2014 at 3:11 am
Correction: The engineering assessment was commissioned in 2009 after the cracks were noted by AECOM during their bridge review. I know because I bid on the needed repairs in 2009! The combined assessment resulted in Miles Canyon bridge receiving new towers, cables, and foundations: now it's time for the Ross River Suspension Bridge to receive a little consideration. YG has let the bridge get to the verge of being dangerous with zero dollars spent even though FEDERAL monies have been specifically promised and assigned for suspension bridge repairs.
Yes, a road bridge in 5 years at a cost of $15 million would be a treat but meanwhile can we just spend the demolition money of $200,000 to keep the historic suspension bridge in service? Its only a budget issue, not an engineering issue.
Lets also make a list of all the Yukon bridges turning 50 in the next ten years because they are all at end of life too. We need an Infrastructure Demolition Branch to handle all the 'old stuff' Yukon has neglected and can't afford to maintain in the North, if this is the 'road' we are going down. We can balance the budget but the Yukon is gradually being demolished through selected neglect and financial strangulation. Not proud of this approach. Don't build any new until figure out whether they too will be neglected in 50 years. I'd like to see a list of all the bridges Yukoners own.
Up 11 Down 16
Myron Gaines on Mar 18, 2014 at 10:11 am
"Schiman acknowledged the government's last official word was that the bridge must come down"
Goodnight sweet prince
Up 38 Down 7
snow canoe on Mar 18, 2014 at 9:02 am
Why isn't MLA Stacey Hassard standing up for the people of Ross River? This isn't good representation when you are no where to be seen!
Up 53 Down 16
BnR on Mar 18, 2014 at 8:19 am
Mr. Cathers is well paid to be a minister. When can we expect him to start earning that salary?
Sending up others to handle his work? Really?
Up 53 Down 17
flyingfur on Mar 18, 2014 at 7:51 am
If Cathers had anything resembling cajones he'd go himself. By this move we know that he does not so good luck to the other guys. Shame on Cathers and shame on Pasloski for not having a minister step up to the plate and answer questions...in some circles that is called cowardice.
Up 30 Down 27
s. wood on Mar 18, 2014 at 7:20 am
If we are going to be possibly spending $4.5 million dollars on something like this then we might as well look at the whole picture and think about just building a bridge for vehicles and pedestrians (open year round). Money better spent I think. What does it cost for the ferry and personnel to operate for a season. Never mind that the gov't just spent a butt load of money on rebuilding the existing ferry, that has taken the majority of the winter.