Construction of the international bridge (am_598)

As soon as 1879, the Federal Minister of Transportation Hector-L. Langevin had a study made on the needs for bridges on the upper St. John River in Madawaska county. Four places were identified: Saint-Léonard, Edmundston, Clair and Saint-François. Nothing was done because the American government refused to participate in the project. In 1896, Major Dickey of Fort Kent raised this question in parliament but in vain. Around 1908, with the contribution of Pius Michaud, Member of Parliament in Ottawa, and Patrick Therriault, Senator of Maine, in Augusta, the two federal governments agreed to contribute $37,000 each. In 1911, a steel bridge was erected connecting Van Buren and Saint-Leonard, thus becoming the first international entrance by land in upper St. John River Valley. Photo taken in 1911.