J. C. Van Horne Bridge

The J. C. Van Horne Bridge is a Canadian steel through truss/steel deck truss bridge crossing the Restigouche River between Campbellton, New Brunswick and Pointe-à-la-Croix, Quebec.

J. C. Van Horne Bridge
The J.C. Van Horne Bridge as seen from Campbellton, facing Quebec
Coordinates48°0′40.52″N 66°40′50.84″W
CrossesRestigouche River
LocaleCampbellton, New Brunswick, Pointe-à-la-Croix, Quebec, Listuguj Miꞌgmaq First Nation
Official nameJ.C. Van Horne Bridge
Other name(s)Van Horne Bridge
Characteristics
Design Steel Truss Bridge
Total length805 m (2,641 ft)
Width2 Lanes, 2 Sidewalks
Longest span380 m (1,247 ft)
History
Construction startJune, 1958
OpenedOctober 15, 1961
Statistics
Daily traffic11 700 (2012) [1]
Location

Built between June 1958 and October 1961, the bridge was opened to traffic on October 15, 1961.[2] As an interprovincial crossing, the bridge was constructed under a three-party agreement between the governments of Canada, New Brunswick and Quebec.

Measuring 805 m (2641.07 ft) in total length, the bridge consists of four deck-truss approach-spans joined in the middle with a cantilever-through-truss structure. The middle structure is composed of two anchor spans and one clear span over the navigational channel measuring 380 m (1246.71 ft). It carries 2 traffic lanes and 2 sidewalks.

History

Crossing the Restigouche River between Campbellton, NB and Pointe-à-la-Croix, QC had long been a bone of contention by locals in both provinces. A federally funded inter-provincial ferry service between the two communities had proven adequate until the 1950s when vehicle traffic began to grow at much higher rate than forecast.

By the late 1950s, local New Brunswick PC Member of Parliament J.C. Van Horne made the case for a bridge and invited representatives from the federal and provincial governments to witness a "typical weekend" lineup at the ferry. Van Horne had chosen the Ste. Anne Feast weekend (On or around July 26) where the lineups would be predictably long on both sides.

The government representatives were convinced of the need for a bridge to replace the ferry service and acceded to Van Horne's wishes. The bridge was later named in his honour.

  • J.C. Van Horne Bridge in Campbellton over the Restigouche River
  • J.C. Van Horne Bridge as seen from Listuguj

References
  1. https://www2.gnb.ca/content/dam/gnb/Departments/env/pdf/EIA-EIE/Registrations-Engegistrements/documents/EIARegistration1474/EIARegistration1474-AppendixF.pdf
  2. "Campbellton: A community where no one gives up". CBC. January 13, 2009.


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