The Honourable Mike Currie, Minister of Transportation and Public Works, today outlined tentative plans to bring permanent improvements to the quality of water in the Vernon River.
Minister Currie said Department officials are in the process of designing a bridge structure, to be located in the middle of the river to re-connect the former channel. The structure will be made of steel and concrete and will have a 10 meter wide span to allow for virtually 100% tidal exchange. This design will replace the former causeway that has been essentially destroying the Vernon River for over 45 years.
Minister Currie said he hoped today's announcement will clear up some of the misinformation that has been surrounding this project in recent weeks.
"It has always been our intention to clean up the Vernon River and that is what we will do," said Minister Currie. "This new bridge structure will correct a mistake that was made 45 years ago. Residents of the Vernon Bridge area made it clear at a public meeting that they wanted a structure located in the middle of the river and that is what our design will include."
Minister Currie said he told residents he would bring the design to a public meeting before any construction began and he re-iterated those intentions today.
"It is our intention to work closely with the community to make sure this project is done right," the Minister said. "Residents will get a chance to view the design and ask questions before any work is started."
The Department is getting assistance from officials within the Department of Fisheries and Tourism, as well as the Department of Technology and Environment, to obtain the earliest possible construction schedule.
"We know there are a number of parties who would be directly affected by construction, and we want to ensure that all of those concerns will be identified before any work begins," the Minister concluded.