A number of residents attended the Open House held February 26, 2026.

The Department of Transportation held an Open House to provide an update on the status of the Centennial Bridge and discuss future work.
The bridge will be closed for eight months from April 1 and Dec. 1 in both 2026 and 2027 to replace the bridge deck on the north and south approach spans. An additional closure will be needed to carry out the final phase, replacing the bridge deck for the centre spans.

MLA Sam Johnston welcomed everyone to the session. Deputy Mayor Paddy Quinn spoke on behalf of the City. He said it was recognized that the closure would have profound impacts on residents, commuters, and local businesses but the priority is clear: to keep the city moving safely and as efficiently as possible.

Measures that are part of the City’s mitigation plan include: temporary traffic signals, daily monitoring of traffic conditions, coordinated public works operations, and real-time communication tools such as Voyent Alerts, roadway message boards, and a dedicated Centennial Bridge Closure Information Hub on the City’s website.
”We know this closure will present challenges. It will require patience, flexibility, and co-operation from all of us.”

DTI Minister Chuck Chiasson told those in attendance he understood the frustration but stated the work had to done.

”We are committed to getting this project completed and are working with our partners at the City of Miramichi and in the community to provide assistance with some of the traffic delays that will be caused by this planned closure.”

The Open House provided city residents and businesses an opportunity to ask questions to DTI staff, City staff, and to Minister Chiasson and Deputy Minister Kelly Cain.
Poster sized images and drawings were displayed to show the work that needed to be done on the bridge, the detours, where the temporary traffic lights would be located, the new transit routes, the water taxi and information from emergency services.

The province plans to operate a water taxi to carry 12 people at a time between Chatham and Douglastown.

More information on the City’s Bridge Mitigation Plan can be found here.

More information on Miramichi Transit’s new routes and express buses can be found here.

The City has set up Centennial Bridge Closure Information Hub on its website. It will be updated on a regular basis with new information. Check it out here.