Keith Hoyt’s cows once drew crowds of locals and visitors driving by his farm in Newcastle Centre along Grand Lake. On sunny days, people stopped to watch the herd graze on land passed down from his father and grandfather. That changed in September when authorities closed the nearby Newcastle Creek #1 bridge after deeming it unsafe.
The closure turned a short crossing into a 12-kilometre detour east of Minto, isolating about 70 properties with permanent and seasonal residents. Hoyt now faces split operations, with his cows on one side of the creek and hay fields on the other. He reports a drop in visitors, impacting his social connections, and even claims his cows appear depressed.
Local Farmers Feel the Strain
“No one travels here no more. Roger would go by, and Joe, and these people, they’d stop for a second if they had something, but no, nothing now,” Hoyt said. “Now, you know, I’m just the old man at the end of the road.”
Sue and Bruce Carr retired to their lakeside property across the bridge in 2020, starting a small farm selling produce, fruit, and plants. The detour has halved their winter egg sales as customers avoid the extra drive. The couple now plans to scale back operations significantly.
“So we knew right away if it was closed, it was pretty much doomed for us,” Sue Carr said. “We love the place. It’s just we don’t love getting here. We miss all the neighbors down the road… it’s going to be a really quiet summer for us.”
Detour Road Deteriorates
Officials upgraded Cedar Street, an old mining road, as the detour to connect properties to Route 10 and Minto. Initially smooth, the graded dirt path has developed washboard sections and muddy potholes. Residents worry about worsening conditions during the spring melt.
Cost Drives Province’s Decision
The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure has opted against replacement, citing high costs. Spokesperson Jacob MacDonald stated that preliminary estimates reached $8.9 million for a single-span panel bridge or $9.3 million for a two-span concrete beam bridge, including demolition. Flood risks also factor in.
Instead, the department plans to decommission the bridge for vehicles and upgrade Cedar Street with chipseal on a new alignment at about $5.8 million.
Leaders Push Back
Grand Lake Progressive Conservative MLA Kris Austin expressed disappointment, arguing a new bridge would save taxpayer money and unite the community. “I am convinced it would be a savings to the taxpayer and a relief to residents to have a new bridge installed,” Austin wrote, noting overlooked community division costs.
Grand Lake Mayor Kevin Nicklin rejects the province’s estimates and seeks independent contractor quotes. He highlights maintenance challenges on the detour over old mining slag pits and calls for bridge replacement to match the original.
“And so at the end of the day, the long-term benefit would be to replace the bridge as exactly as it is,” Nicklin said. He references decades of mining that funded the province, seeking modest repayment for the area’s restoration.
At a recent gathering on Hoyt’s farm, Sue Carr shared fresh muffins. Hoyt teased Bruce Carr about missing past road traffic, while Hoyt’s granddaughter visited, noting the bridge closure with surprise.
