A story about a familiar crossing, the people who relied on it, and one local’s memory of the day it was no longer safe.
The bridge that carried us across
“Come along, b’ys. We’ll take a slow look at this one,” Kite said, facing the Shoal Harbour River.
The causeway had been taking shape since the 1950s. In 1963, the old bridge was built across the river, joining the route through Clarenville to the Bonavista Peninsula. For years it was part of the everyday road: people crossed it for work, school, errands, visits, and all the ordinary things that make a place feel connected.
“A bridge gets used so often, you can forget how much it’s doing for you,” Kite said. “It just becomes part of the way home.”
But by 2018, the old crossing was in trouble. An inspection found serious structural problems, and the bridge was closed while its condition was examined. Terry remembers seeing the damage for himself: the platform was falling toward the river, and there were big holes in it. It was a frightening sight, and a clear sign that the bridge could not simply carry on as before.
A temporary base was put in place, and the bridge reopened under restrictions. Traffic had to take turns in a single lane, guided by traffic lights, and vehicles were limited by weight. The crossing could be used again, but everyone had to move carefully and give the old bridge time to make way for a replacement.
“That temporary fix kept a road open,” Kite said. “But it couldn’t give the old bridge back its strength.”
After years of planning and funding work, construction of a new bridge began in 2023. The old structure was removed and replaced with a modern steel box-girder bridge, alongside a pedestrian crossing.
On December 8, 2023, the Shoal Harbour Causeway reopened to vehicles and pedestrians. The detours were over. A new bridge was carrying people across the river, ready to serve Clarenville and the communities around it for years to come.
Kite looked back toward the water.
“The old bridge is gone now, but people remember it. They remember the shape of it, the road across it, and the years it carried them through. And some remember seeing it when the holes opened and the platform started to give way. That’s part of the story too.”
He gave a little nod toward the new crossing.
“So here’s to the old Shoal Harbour Causeway Bridge: a familiar part of the journey, remembered by the people who crossed it. And here’s to the new bridge, carrying the road forward.”
History credits
This story combines local history with Terry’s firsthand memory of the bridge’s damaged platform and temporary reopening.
Sources: Our Town Clarenville: The Battle of the Bridge · Town of Clarenville: Bridge replacement timeline · Town of Clarenville: Reopening, December 8, 2023 · ReNew Canada: Replacement project details
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