Morrissy Bridge

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A photograph of the Morrissy Bridge
A photograph of the Morrissy Bridge

The Morrissy Bridge is a steel truss bridge crossing the Miramichi River at Newcastle, New Brunswick, Canada.

Built in the early 20th century, the bridge was the original crossing between Newcastle and Chatham Head until construction of the Miramichi Bridge in the late 1990s.

The Morrissy Bridge has a swing span, although it is no longer used with the Miramichi Bridge upstream closing the river to large vessel navigation.

The Morrissy Bridge was badly damaged on November 5, 1971 when the Panamanian registered Liberty Ship Grand Valor struck the second pier of the bridge while departing the Newcastle Wharf with a load of pulpwood. Several heavy trusses were knocked out and the swing span was moved off its bearing pad. Repairs took 3 weeks and the vessel was arrested and later released.