The months-long closure of a well-travelled bridge — and a detour that means 10 minutes driving over a dirt road — is causing concern among residents and tourism operators in Nova Scotia's Colchester County.

The Lower Portapique bridge has been closed since April, after public works staff found damage to the vertical poles that support the river bridge, known as piles, during an inspection. The detour skirts the scenic route along Highway 2 and takes locals and tourists alike down a gravel stret…