The Centennial Bridge in Miramichi will undergo its first full closure this year as part of a multi-year rehabilitation project, New Brunswick’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure has confirmed.

The bridge is expected to be fully closed to traffic from April 1 to Dec. 1 in both 2026 and 2027 to allow for replacement of the bridge deck on the north and south approach spans. A separate closure will be required at a later date to complete deck replacement on the centre spans.

Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Chuck Chiasson said a contract has been awarded for the next phase of the project and the province is confident construction will proceed as planned.

“I understand the frustration of the people in Miramichi who have been hearing about a planned closure for the last number of years, only for it to not happen for one reason or another,” Chiasson said in a news release. “We have awarded the contract for the next phase of the project and are confident in the plan that is being put in place to get this work underway.”

The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure and the City of Miramichi will host a public open house on Feb. 26 at the Miramichi Agricultural Exhibition Association to provide details on the work and outline traffic mitigation measures.

The Centennial Bridge carries Route 8 and Route 11 traffic across the Miramichi River and is a key transportation link for the region. The structure is approximately 73 metres high and 1.1 kilometres long, making it one of the largest bridges in the province.