Drivers of the 500 vehicles that cross the trestle bridge over the Abitibi River in Iroquois Falls every month are facing a toll increase.
Shelley Jessup, bridge supervisor for the owner, the BMI Group, says it takes effect at midnight Sunday.
“For light vehicles, it is going up to $7.00 a crossing from $6.00 a crossing,” she says. “And for heavy vehicles, it is going up to $45.00 a crossing from $40.00 a crossing.”
Jessup says this is the first increase since 2017 and. is needed to support ongoing maintenance to keep the bridge useable.
“As well as that at some point in time over the next couple of years, we’ll be looking to replace the system that is actually down at the bridge. So there’s going to be some fairly big expenditures coming up as well.”
The bridge is part of the former Abitibi Paper Company’s road to its lumber harvesting area. Most users are headed to and from fishing, hunting and other recreational opportunities.
