Located just one kilometer north of Hartland in Carleton County, the Hugh John Flemming Bridge pays tribute to its namesake, Hugh John Flemming (1899-1982).
Born in Peel in 1899, Hugh John Flemming was a lumberman and politician who went on to become the Premier of New Brunswick. His political career began in 1921 when he was elected as a municipal councilor for Carleton. In 1944, he became a Conservative Member of the Legislative Assembly for Carleton. Flemming was chosen as the Conservative leader in 1951 and led the party to victory in 1952, ending a 17-year Liberal rule. During his tenure as premier from 1952 to 1960, he also held positions as the minister of public works and minister of municipal affairs. He modernized New Brunswick’s hydroelectric system with the construction of the Beechwood complex. His government, however, was defeated over hospital taxes.
In 1960, Prime Minister John Diefenbaker appointed Flemming as the federal minister of forestry, and he represented Royal. In 1962, he was elected as a Member of Parliament for Victoria-Carleton and appointed as the minister of national revenue. Flemming continued to serve as an MP until 1972 and was a member of the Atlantic Development Board.
The Hugh John Flemming Bridge allows the Route 130 crossing the Saint John River. It thus replaces the World’s Longest Covered Bridge , which is still open to local traffic.
