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Miles Canyon bridge closed

Whitehorse’s Miles Canyon suspension bridge has been temporarily closed for inspection over public safety concerns.

Whitehorse’s Miles Canyon suspension bridge has been temporarily closed for inspection over public safety concerns.

The Department of Community Services says a recent inspection found possible deterioration of several timbers on the wooden bridge.

A more comprehensive inspection is needed “to tell us the full story and what, if any maintenance could be required,” said spokesperson Ben Yu Schott.

Signs and barricades have been installed on the bridge to prevent people from accessing it.

The detailed inspection will be done in a few weeks, at which point the results will be made public, Yu Schott said.

The bridge was built in 1922 by the White Pass and Yukon Route so that tourists could visit the old tramway on the east bank of the Yukon River.

At some point before 1926, it was turned over to the territorial government.

Maintenance work was done most recently in 2011/12, Yu Schott said. Questions about when it was last inspected were not answered in time for today’s deadline.