CN bridge reopening may cost Thunder Bay, Mayor Keith Hobbs says

CN Rail will unveil some short-term solutions today for reopening the James Street swing bridge to traffic.

Railway representatives will discuss their ideas at a meeting with the city of Thunder Bay and Fort William First Nation.

Mayor Keith Hobbs said he is anxious to see the bridge reopened to vehicles after a closure that has gone on for more than eight months, following a fire.

"Hopefully we'll be making some progress," he said. "We're getting hints that there will be progress."

Hobbs said the city may be asked to pay part of the cost of reopening the bridge, adding he "would be naive" to think CN would not be proposing some kind of cost-sharing for repairs to enable the reopening of the bridge.

A spokesperson for Fort William First Nation says that the community is "hoping for answers" today.

The meeting with CN will be closed to the public, however city officials are expected to speak with reporters when it's completed.

In an email to CBC News, CN regional manager of Public and Government Affairs Lindsay Fedchyshyn said the railway has "no (public) announcement planned at this time. CN Engineering will be reviewing short-term solutions for the bridge with city representatives."