NEWS RELEASE
TOWN OF NORTHEASTERN MANITOULIN AND THE ISLANDS
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In the month of August there were at least three instances when the swing bridge, located in Little Current, required repairs and was unavailable to vehicular traffic in either direction on highway six. The latest breakdown also prevented marine traffic from passing through the North Channel for a twenty-four-hour period. These events are happening more frequently, and we are all frustrated.
The bridge is owned by the Province of Ontario and managed by the Ministry of Transportation. The municipality has repeatedly met with Senior Staff and Ministers regarding these mechanical failures to emphasize the need to ensure the reliable flow of traffic on and off Manitoulin Island. Our concerns have been acknowledged, and the meetings cordial, but the process to replace the existing structure has been painfully slow.
In the summer of 2023, Minister Rickford announced the Treasury Board had set aside the funds for the replacement of the bridge and that the next step in the process was to move to detail design. Detail design is required prior to going to tender for construction, as it provides the engineered drawings required for tender purposes.
As a result of the latest bridge failures many community members have undertaken various initiatives to encourage the Ontario government to move the project forward. These initiatives have included, but not been limited to lobbying, fund raising, signing petitions and contacting the Premier's Office. The municipality will continue to work with other Island communities and First Nations to encourage the province to prioritize this project, recognizing its importance as a vital link on a Provincial Highway that enables the flow of people, emergency vehicles and goods and services for the citizens of Manitoulin Island.
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