Canada’s main transportation route, the TransCanada Highway is closed after the Nipigon River Bridge shifted.
Provincial Police say the ends of the bridge lifted off the ground on both sides by about two feet and the bridge is closed for an indefinite period of time.
The OPP say they hope to open at least one lane of traffic sometime Monday.
Nipigon Mayor Richard Harvey says engineers still need to assess the damage to the structure.
They are on scene.
Harvey says the old bridge has already been dismantled, severing the only link connecting Eastern and Western Canada.
He notes the town is taking every precaution to make sure emergency vehicles are able to serve both sides of the bridge, adding its community centre is open to travellers for at least the next 24 hours.
Ontario Minister of Transportation Steven Del Duca says the provincial government will do everything it can do to restore the bridge quickly, while also making sure the safety of the travelling public remains of paramount importance.
The Greenstone area has declared a state of emergency as the municipality attempts to ensure that travellers are safe.
On top of waiting it out, the only other option for motorists is going through the United States via Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie.
Minister of Northern Development and Mines Michael Gravelle says he’ll be travelling to Nipigon Monday to assess the situation first hand.
Gravelle admits that it hurts as it’s been his pride and joy calling the $100-million the “crown jewel” of the provincial government’s four-laning program.
