The "townspeople" could be rural locals that soldiers just assume live in the town. Maybe some live in town temporarily to trade, like pop up a stall and squat in an apartment, and then leave when their wares are sold. So the "town" is really just some abandoned infrastructure and a handful of squatters.
The rural locals want the bridge rebuilt and have enough random farm equipment, scavenged construction equipment, and borrowed mechanics tools to do a good enough job to get the bridge back given enough time.
|