Danger signs to be posted on Chéticamp boardwalk
Area councillor warns of rough sections, says some parts may have to be closed
Visitors to the Chéticamp waterfront this summer may not be able to stroll the length of the community's boardwalk.
Alfred Poirier, the area's municipal councillor, says signs will be posted warning of rough sections, and some parts may have to be closed altogether.
He said the boardwalk has been there for more than 20 years without major renovation.
"Every year with the erosion and the high seas, it's getting to the best of it, so there's two or three spots that are very dangerous," Poirier said.
The wooden structure runs along the harbour of the picturesque village and is a major tourist draw and is enjoyed by residents year-round.
"It's part of the community, it's part of our infrastructure, it's part of our tourism package," said Poirier. "People there, they can see across to the island, it's a very scenic view from everywhere."
Unclear where responsibility lies
Poirier said the boardwalk is the responsibility of the Chéticamp Economic Council (CEC), a local group similar to the board of trade.
But Scott Aucoin, the president of the CEC, said the council is not responsible for the boardwalk.
The CEO of Inverness County, Keith MacDonald, said the CEC is responsible for only some sections of the boardwalk. He was unable to say who owns the rest of the structure.
The county has just completed a structural examination of the boardwalk and is now awaiting an engineering report about the damage and necessary repairs.
Neither Poirier nor MacDonald know how much the repairs would cost or who would responsible for paying them. Poirier estimated the cost of replacement could be close to $1 million.
