Phases two to nine are cost shared with the federal government.
Extended full closures are expected in 2026 and 2027, from April 1 to December 1 each year, to execute Phase 8A: bridge deck rehab on the north and south spans. The closure in 2026 started April 6 at 7AM. Future closures will be required to execute the final phase, Phase 9: bridge deck rehab for the center spans of the bridge. The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure is working with the City of Miramichi to mitigate the impact of planned closures.
Overview
The Centennial Bridge, opened in 1967, remains a vital transportation link carrying Route 8 and Route 11 traffic across the Miramichi River, accommodating about 13,700 vehicles daily. With an overall height of 73m over a navigational channel, the 1.1 km bridge is one of the largest structures in the province. An assessment in 2009 concluded that a full-scale rehabilitation could extend the structure's service life by another 50-60 years.
Work on the $256 million rehabilitation project began in 2012. It encompassed repairs and upgrades to the steel superstructure and foundation elements rehabilitation. Future project phases will include work to widen the roadway across the bridge, additional pier improvements, deck replacement and steel rehabilitation.
Phases 1 thru 9
| Phase | Status |
|---|---|
| 1, 2, 3 - Piers 1-7 (substructure & superstructure) | Completed |
| 4 - Pier work (land) | Completed |
| 5 - Pier work (water) | Completed |
| 6 - Utility ducts (fiber) | Completed |
| 7 - Bearing replacement and pier repairs | Completed |
| 8 - Substructure Rehabilitation | Contract awarded in June 2025 with work anticipated to be completed by summer 2026. |
| 8A - North & South Approaches Deck Replacement | Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued to pre-qualified contractors in November 2025 and awarded in January 2026. Full bridge closures are expected from April 1 to December 1 in 2026 and in 2027. The anticipated completion of this contract is winter 2028. |
| 9 - Pier Rehabilitation and Navigation Span Deck Replacement | Currently in design with anticipated construction start in 2027 and full bridge closures anticipated to facilitate a forecasted completion in 2029. |
The timeline will be updated as the project phases progress through to the anticipated targeted completion date in 2029.
The department has worked with the City of Miramichi in efforts to mitigate the impacts of increased traffic on the alternate routing as a result of the bridge closure. The mitigations include: additional transit busses on express routes, additional emergency response services, and additional detour measures including temporary traffic lights. The department has implemented a trial a water taxi service between the South and North sides of the river (see webpage for water taxi: Centennial Bridge water taxi - gnb.ca).
Both the department and the city are encouraging the public to consider alternatives such as working from home, where possible; car pooling, or using public transit; and completing errands outside of peak traffic times.
The department will continue to review the execution of the work to minimize disruptions with all closures or additional traffic changes and closures communicated to the public in advance.
The department appreciates the public's patience. Motorists are advised to monitor https://511.gnb.ca/ or @brunswick511 for further updates
MEDIA CONTACT: Jacob MacDonald, communications, Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, [email protected]