Priceville Footbridge

PricevilleFootbridge

Priceville Footbridge

Southwest Miramichi River

At McNamee

Description: The Priceville Footbridge is a two span cable suspension footbridge linking the region of Priceville to McNamee on the Southwest Miramichi River in the Rural Community of Upper Miramichi. It is accessed from the south side of the Miramichi River by McNamee Footbridge Lane, off the McNamee Road and from the north side via The Priceville Road.

Heritage Value: The Priceville Footbridge is designated a Local Historic Place for its importance within the community like as a link between the adjacent communities. This bridge replaced a former steel structure that was in place for one year when a cable snapped during the spring freshet of 1939, taking the lives of three local men; Willard Price, Tennyson Price and James Stewart; two others survived. It lacked a span support mid way and a weight restriction of three persons was posted. In an epoch poem recounting the Priceville Tragedy, one of the men who died was enroute to meet the local train. The purpose of his trip was to purchase his wedding license. The bridge broke again in 1961, as the result of a abutment failure.

The residents of Priceville relied on this footbridge as a link to McNamee where they would receive their mail and daily household needs from the general store there. The centre span, cable structure and approaches were completely replaced and elevated in 1988. It is the longest suspension footbridge in New Brunswick.

Source:  Rural Community of Upper Miramichi, Site File #09-14

Character-defining Elements: The character-defining elements relating to the Priceville Footbridge include: