Last week finally brought a hotly anticipated announcement about the Félix-Gabriel Marchand Bridge, also known as the Red-Covered Bridge, in Mansfield.
Pontiac MNA André Fortin and MRC Pontiac Warden Jane Toller were front and centre to announce $5.1 million in funding to rehabilitate the bridge.
The goal of the project is to restore it to its former glory as one of the longest covered bridges in Quebec.
The bridge was constructed in 1898 for a hefty cost of $6,000 – and that didn’t even include the cost of paint!
Adjusted for inflation, that $6,000 is equivalent to $130,400 in today’s dollars. Keep in mind, the environmental and building codes were much more lax back then.

So it raises the question, is the $5.1 million of taxpayer money going to repair the bridge worth it?
We are told that restoring the bridge will help attract tourists to the region.
But will it?
Are there really that many covered bridge aficionados out there that they will help bring in a return on investment for the $5.1 million?
There will definitely be some tourism benefit, but $5 million worth?
The Pontiac is a region that is steeped in history. And not just any history – a uniquely Canadian history that helps to tell the story of how our country came to be.
Think of the George Bryson House and the stories told about the lumber barons and the hand that they played in the formation of the Ottawa Valley as a centre of commerce in the 19th century.
Think of the stone buildings scattered across Portage du Fort that used granite taken from the same mine as the building blocks of our Parliament.
We have plenty of history but it seems we aren’t able to attract enough tourists into the area to enjoy it.
So is $5 million to restore a heritage bridge worth it?
The stated goal is to make the bridge structurally sound enough to support vehicle traffic.
If we’re trying to make this a tourist attraction, is allowing cars the best idea?
I find it doubtful that people will travel long distances just so that they can enjoy the novelty of driving through one of Quebec’s longest covered bridges (the title is disputed) for a matter of seconds.
If we really want to make the most of this project, lets open the bridge up to local businesses.
If we want tourists to come to the red covered bridge, we should let them engage with it in some kind of meaningful way other than simply driving through it and taking selfies.
Think of it. Imagine setting up a farmers’ market once per week. During the summer, local businesses and artists can erect stalls and sell their wares.
Not only that, but the tourists will be able to spend more than a matter of seconds on the bridge and actually get a chance to see the craftsmanship up close.
Spending $5 million to restore a heritage bridge in one of the poorest areas of the province seems like we have our priorities all wrong.
We constantly talk about the need to improve Hwy. 148 in order to attract more people to the area.
In fact, we just spent millions upgrading and widening a stretch of Hwy. 148 in Luskville this past summer.
Anyone who has driven Hwy 148 can attest to the poor condition of the roadway. Why not spend the money on “the gateway to the Pontiac” instead of spending it on a project that has a marginal benefit for the rest of the region.
Sure, heritage projects help to enhance the region, but let’s focus on the most pressing needs. A covered bridge may bring in some tourists, but a large percentage of Pontiac residents commute on Hwy. 148 every day.
Let’s spend the money where it will have the greatest impact for the largest number of people in the region.
Some people will point to the fact that the province’s heritage and infrastructure budget’s come from different pots. But there’s only one taxpayer and it comes out of our pockets.
Tourist attractions are nice, but we need to be able to bring them into the region so they can spend their money.

Chris Lowrey