Flood Details - 1986-04-29 - 1986-04-29

Bathurst Area: The failure of the aging causeway bridge was attributed to passing ice floes, which caused three pilings to move and a support beam to fall. One span sagged as a result, forcing the immediate closure of the bridge for at least a month. The floe struck an area of the bridge that had been previously damaged by fire.

Spring freshet and moving ice floes.

The bridge was already scheduled for replacement, and the plans were almost finalized when the bridge failed. The cost of temporary repairs, if used, was estimated to be at least $25 000. The bridge carried 5 000 to 10 000 vehicles daily between Bathurst and East Bathurst. Traffic was detoured across the Village Bridge.