Reversing Falls Bridge

History

The Reversing Falls rapids are a notoriously dangerous stretch of water passing through a gorge which creates a chasm through the middle of the Saint John metropolitan region. Prior to construction of the first bridge in 1853, ferries were used to connect both sides of the river in the city.

The first bridge was a suspension bridge, built by Joseph Tomlinson, measured 190m in span. Its replacement, the current steel arch structure or Saint John Highway Arch Bridge (designed by Philip Louis Pratley), was opened to public use alongside the original in 1915. Both structures have shared the site of this crossing with the Reversing Falls Railway Bridge since 1885. It is also known as the floating bridge.

Until the 1940s, the Reversing Falls Bridge also carried a streetcar line.

Until 1968, with the opening of a second bridge in Saint John, the Harbour Bridge, the Reversing Falls Bridge was the only link between the city's East and West sides.

Visitors may stop at a public viewing point above the bridge on the west bank of the river, or use a restaurant and gift shop constructed adjacent to its western abutment.

Suicide issues

Reversing Falls Bridge has had issues with being a "suicide bridge", or a spot often used for suicide attempts, with the Saint John Police Force responding to an average of 20 incidents at the bridge annually between 2017 and 2022. The first known suicide attempt in which somebody survived occurred on June 29, 1914, when it was still a suspension bridge. In 2016, plans for a $500,000 suicide barrier were paused by Bill Fraser, the Transportation and Infrastructure Minister at the time. Both members of the public as well as the Saint John City Council have made calls to the province for the installation of a barrier in 2017, in 2019, and again in 2022. The city was set to install security cameras on the bridge in September 2022, but faced delays in January 2023.

References

References

1. "Reversing Falls Bridges – CSCE / SCGC".
2. (4 October 2022). "Saint John to renew call for suicide-prevention barriers on Reversing Falls Bridge". [[CBC News]].
3. (30 June 1914). "Remarkable Escape". The Morning Leader.
4. (1 July 1914). "Woman Jumps 100 Feet Into The River". The Saskatoon Phoenix.
5. (30 July 2019). "Saint John councillor wants Reversing Falls Bridge suicide barrier reconsidered". [[CBC News]].
6. (5 October 2022). "Renewed Calls For Suicide-Prevention Barriers At Reversing Falls". [[Country 94]].
7. (29 September 2022). "Reversing Falls Bridge to get cameras; Province isn't considering suicide prevention barriers". [[Telegraph-Journal]].
8. (26 January 2023). "Reversing Falls Bridge cameras delayed". [[Telegraph-Journal]].