A recent act of arson has local farmers feeling frustrated.

Two weeks ago, the bridge just north of Mitchell along Road 39 North was set on fire. The pass has since been deemed unsafe to use and is blocked to all traffic.

Brandt expects the bridge will remain closed for around two years.

Hanover Councillor Bob Brandt says the bridge was commonly used by farmers in the area who are now being forced to take a three-mile detour any time they want to get to their field. While this may not seem a significant change, Brandt says it adds up pretty quickly.

“One thing we know is that everybody wants that bridge replaced," states Brandt, "and that is simply because it is such a terrible inconvenience when you’re hauling grain and produce.”

The necessary detour takes most farmers down Road 38 North or Clearsprings Road; a stretch that is already busy because of the farm implement dealers located nearby. Brandt expects this closure will only further congest the area.

Fortunately or unfortunately, Brandt says the impacted farmers are used to this kind of setback.

“That’s the same road we had a bridge out on for over two years," he recalls, "and that bridge only got replaced after it had been out for three harvests.”

Brandt is referring to a grass fire which blazed through the region in the spring of 2011, burning a bridge along Road 39 North in the process.

If past experience is to be any kind of indicator, Brandt says things are not looking too optimistic.

“If Manitoba Infrastructure can move on it, the earliest it will be replaced is next year, but more likely the year after.”

Until that happens, farmers will have to deal with this inefficiency.