Crews Face ‘Challenges’ With Rothesay Ave. Work

Drivers will have to deal with the closure of Rothesay Avenue near Rothesay Road for a bit longer.

The busy Saint John road has been closed at the railway overpass since mid-August as crews reconfigure the road.

The work will allow for traffic lights to be installed at two intersections: Rothesay Avenue at Rothesay Road, and Rothesay Avenue at the Route 1 westbound exit ramp.

The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure had hoped to have the road reopened to traffic last weekend.

But Brad Mullin, a senior resident engineer with the department, said they have run into “a few challenges”, such as problematic underground utilities.

“For example, we encountered some fibre optic cable in the ditch line that meant that we had to pipe instead of digging a ditch,” said Mullin. “That was about another 100 metres of concrete pipe plus a couple of extra catch basins.”

The most recent challenge encountered by crews, Mullin said, is right under the railway bridge.

“We encountered a concrete-encased utility duct, which is for internet and telephone, and that, unfortunately, was too high so we’re looking at having to move that,” he said.

Mullin said the heavy rain from post-tropical storm Dorian last weekend also flooded the site for several days.

Transportation officials now hope to reopen the road at the end of September.

But Mullin said the project is not expected to wrap up until late November or early December, so drivers may still see some delays.

“There will still be some curbing and traffic lights going up, and also paving,” he said.

Mullin said the department appreciates how patient the public has been, noting they have received few complaints about the ongoing work.

“They understand that this is an improvement project and it’s a project that is needed,” he said.

Mullin said there will be a cost increase as a result of the delays but officials are still crunching the numbers.