Riverkeeper Proposes Recycling Causeway Gates

Second Renaissance Poster Unveiled by Kennedy

MONCTON - April 30, 2004 - Petitcodiac Riverkeeper wants the infamous gates of the Petitcodiac River causeway to be recycled into a large outdoor sculpture once a decision is made to replace the current causeway structure with a partial bridge.

The second of a four-part poster series entitled “Petitcodiac Renaissance”, created by the Riverkeeper, was unveiled by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. this evening before a packed audience at Moncton City Hall. Entitled “The Monument”, it introduces the idea that the five giant metallic gates of the causeway, measuring two stories high (20 feet high by 30 feet wide), should be taken from the causeway, recycled and integrated into a large outdoor sculpture to commemorate the renaissance of the Petitcodiac River.

“We believe that these five causeway gates have more value to our community by standing out in the open air than physically blocking our river system”, exclaimed Petitcodiac Riverkeeper Daniel LeBlanc. “True to our community’s motto of “Resurgo” (Rise Again), the Petitcodiac River will rise again one day soon and make this community very proud. The revival of our river will be historic”, suggests LeBlanc, “and we should commemorated this in a special way”.

With investments of approximately $500,000 for the installation of the sculpture, the Riverkeeper believes that the region could reap as much as $150,000/year in benefits from this attraction. And with scientists and the government-sponsored $4 million EIA now stating that only free-flow will work to restore fish passage in the endangered Petitcodiac River, the Riverkeeper believes that it is time for the community and elected officials from the region to start looking at the future.

“After nearly 40 years of bringing bad news to this community, we’ve come up with a plan for these gates”, says LeBlanc, “set them free!” Asked to comment on the concept of taking the gates out of the Petitcodiac causeway and having them recycled into a large outdoor sculpture, Kennedy responded: “Cool”!

Click here to read the monument's commemorative text

Click here to see the other of the Renaissance Petitcodiac Series

INFORMATION :
Daniel LeBlanc
Tel. (506) 388-5337
www.petitcodiac.org