Burlington Ontario - Burlington residents near the Snake Road bridge that connects to Waterdown are angry it was closed without notice for safety reasons Thursday.
 
Canadian Pacific Railway plans to replace the wooden bridge over its tracks after designs are completed to provincial standards, said spokesperson Randy Marsh.
 
The bridge was suddenly closed, however, after CP advised Burlington and Hamilton officials that "our experts were inspecting it as part of their design work and determined the bridge was not fit for vehicular traffic," Marsh said.
 
"It's a little bit of a surprise for people. Unfortunately, we didn't have a chance to advise them. In this case, it was an emergency closure."
 
Marsh said the inspection was done very recently.
 
"We are trying to catch up with notices in the paper. It (work on the bridge) got ahead of us."
 
Shelagh Stuart, a resident of Snake Road in Burlington, is angry there was no warning.
 
She blames Burlington municipal officials for that surprise.
 
It caught drivers unaware, causing a long lineup of cars that needed to turn around at the bridge, she said.
 
Stuart argued the city could have communicated better with residents.
 
"If the city of Burlington knew CP had this card and could shut down the bridge, they should have had better communications."
 
The 1912 bridge remains open to pedestrians and cyclists only until CP begins its bridge restoration.
 
Burlington Councillor Rick Craven heard from a half dozen residents who are angry with the city.
 
"We're as outraged as anyone else," he said.
 
"CP failed to communicate properly. We're very unhappy."
 
Craven is meeting with Burlington staff Monday over the issue.
 
On the Hamilton side, Waterdown councillor Judi Partridge has heard no complaints.
 
"On the Flamborough side, we've been expecting it since June."
 
An average of 1,400 vehicles crosses the bridge daily.
 
Detours around the closure are via Old York Road, Highway 6, and Dundas Street.

Carmela Fragomeni.