CN erecting a chain-link fence on the James St. bridge
Railway says the fence is aimed at protecting pedestrians
CN Rail is building a fence along the James Street swing bridge, saying it wants to protect pedestrians from danger when crossing.
A work crew is installing a chain-link fence adjacent to the walkway to separate it from the roadway previously used by vehicles. The bridge has been closed to vehicular traffic since a fire in October, 2013.
"CN is not cutting off pedestrian access," CN Director of Public Affairs Jim Feeney told CBC News on Monday. "What we are doing is installing fencing to protect pedestrians from accessing dangerous areas of the bridge where a fall may be possible."
Mayor 'left to speculate'
Feeney said the railway has been receiving questions about the work.
He said he is assuring people the fence is "purely protective, a safety measure. We are not restricting the access to the pedestrian section of the bridge."
Thunder Bay Mayor Keith Hobbs was unimpressed with CN's explanation for the work.
"It's great that CN shared this with CBC. Now if they would share it with their partners to the 1906 agreement that would be awesome," Hobbs said in an email to CBC News.
"We are left to speculate what the fence is for," Hobbs added.