The end is near for a major construction project that has been impacting traffic in Moncton and Dieppe for several months.
Work along Main Street near the Moncton-Dieppe city limit has been ongoing since late April, creating significant traffic headaches at times.
Crews are installing more than 350 metres of new storm system, nearly 280 metres of renewed sanitary lines and completing repairs to the water system.
The work was initially expected to be done by late August, but the timeline has been pushed back several weeks.
René Lagacé, the city’s engineering director, admits the work has been more challenging than expected.
“Some of the pipes are dating from back to 1895, so we’re hitting a lot of surprises as we’re digging the street up, as we’re doing the infrastructure renewal,” Lagacé told our newsroom last week.
“We’re also dealing with buried infrastructure for electrical communications, and that infrastructure is not always exactly where you think it is on the plans.
“We have staff that’s been with us for over 20 years, and they’re saying this is the most challenging project to have to deal with.”
The delays and gridlock hit a peak last week as crews were milling the pavement between the Dieppe city limit and Mechanic Street.
Lagacé said some lessons learned that were within the city’s control was shutting down traffic lights and using flaggers instead to help with the congestion.
Crews plan to complete underground pipe work this week while the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure paves the Hall’s Creek Bridge, which has also seen lane reductions throughout the summer.
Lagacé said paving along the rest of Main Street is scheduled for next week, with the potential for it to be done at night to help reduce traffic congestion.
“It might help with traffic, but it’s definitely going to be painful for people that live in the area. Fortunately, there’s not a lot of residences on that stretch, but we’ve got to realize there’s three major hotels in that area,” he said.
While the full completion of work is currently set for Oct. 10, Lagacé expects to see considerable traffic flow improvements by the end of next week.
In the meantime, the engineering director encourages drivers to continue being patient and avoid blocking intersections through the construction zone.
