Saint John Harbour Bridge work to start Sunday as council seeks changes – New Brunswick | 24CA News
Rehabilitation work on the Saint John Harbour Bridge is ready to renew Sunday and is projected to proceed by way of the development season till the tip of November.
“The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure wishes to advise the travelling public that the Saint John Harbour Bridge will again be reduced to one lane of traffic in both directions from April 2, 2023, until November 30, 2023, to allow for multi-phase work,” the ministry stated on its web site
The $26.4-million restore mission started in June 2021 and is predicted to proceed by way of to 2026, with part three beginning Sunday.
The summer season season will have a look at the center portion of the bridge, with extra work being carried out on the bearings. Plans embody lane closures and work being carried out all through the day and night time.
Jeff Carr, New Brunswick’s minister of transportation and infrastructure, instructed Global News that the mission may run to between $26 million and $30 million by the point it’s full. He stated provide chain points and labour prices had harm initiatives just like the Harbour Bridge Rehabilitation.
The work comes because the City of Saint John pushes for what it calls “long-term solutions” in hopes of discovering a one-time repair for the bridge.
The bridge is in Saint John City Councillor David Hickey’s driving. He recalled sitting on the bridge for over an hour and a half final summer season.
“We don’t want any short-term fixes,” Hickey stated.
“What we want are long-term fixes so we can avoid traffic disruptions at lengths like this.”
Councillor David Hickey stated town will proceed to advocate for the bridge.
Zack Power / Global News
He stated that he’s been listening to from residents who’ve been fighting the commute between Uptown and the West Side.
Carr stated he understands the frustration, however night time development will not be at all times attainable.
“It’s difficult with labour shortages,” he stated.
“If there’s anything we can do at night, I’m sure the contractor and our managers are talking about it.”
An estimated 37,000 motorists cross the Harbour Bridge every day. Carr stated closing a lane at a time is not going to “abuse” the Reversing Falls Bridge, which he described as one other bridge throughout the metropolis that’s exhibiting its age.
Discussions with first responders have been “ongoing” with the City of Saint John.
The Harbour Bridge is one in all solely two hyperlinks between the west finish of Saint John and the opposite corridors of town. The Reversing Falls Bridge is a secondary connection when repairs and closures have halted japanese New Brunswick and Maine visitors.
Regular visitors on the Saint John Harbour Bridge will resume in late 2023.
Zack Power / Global New (2022)s
Carr stated that regardless of a few of the hospitals being staggered on one facet of the bridge, first responders have been in a position to cross by way of rapidly.
The provincial and federal governments lately pitched in almost $15 million for phases three and 4 of the Harbour Bridge mission.
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
