Fredericton gears up for 'manageable' construction season

Silas Brown · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 17, 2025 3:39 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 minutes ago

Drivers and pedestrians successful Fredericton tin expect to tally into closures and delays this summer, but metropolis unit accidental the enactment whitethorn beryllium somewhat little disruptive than the past mates of years. 

"I would accidental this twelvemonth we inactive request the nationalist to beryllium diligent to respect the operation sites, but we truly bash deliberation that this play there's tons going on, but manageable," said Melissa Steeves, the city's adjunct manager of engineering, plan and construction.

Headlining this year's large projects are a caller roundabout astatine Prospect Street and Patience Lane, improvements to Main Street and the adjacent signifier of enactment connected Riverside Drive.

But drivers won't person to interest astir the closure of Regent Street this twelvemonth aft large infrastructure enactment wrapped up past fall. 

Councillor Bruce Grandy, who's besides the city's mobility committee chair, is asking the nationalist for patience.

"There volition beryllium interruptions successful definite areas of the city," helium said. 

"We worth the patience of the motoring nationalist and the citizens we have. It is hard astatine times, but it's thing that we request to do."

WATCH | Here's what streets volition beryllium closed successful Fredericton this summer:

Much of the enactment is focused connected replacing h2o and sewer infrastructure to marque definite the metropolis tin grip existent and aboriginal growth. 

"Each of these projects goes nether a lens to look astatine 'is determination maturation going to hap successful that area? Should we upsize?' ... And we're doing that precise well," Grandy said.

"We're constantly looking astatine that, truthful I deliberation we're capable to code the future."

There are a full of 40 projects planned, which includes 7 large infrastructure projects and paving enactment connected 28 streets. 

The caller roundabout planned for Patience Lane and Prospect Street will beryllium akin to the 1 built connected Brookside Drive, slowing postulation successful a high-speed postulation country and allowing for easier entree to the High Point Ridge neighbourhood arsenic good arsenic the caller improvement astatine Golf Club Road. 

The enactment volition impact the closure of Prospect, but metropolis unit aren't yet definite for however long. 

On the northbound side, Main Street will beryllium closed for the summertime betwixt Brookside Drive and Hillcourt Drive to let for infrastructure improvements and streetscaping work. 

Traffic volition beryllium detoured up Fulton Avenue to MacFarlane Street and yet to Brookside Drive. Traffic calming measures similar rubber speedbumps volition beryllium installed soon. 

Riverside Drive has been a constituent of vexation for drivers for the past 2 years, causing detours and delays, but this year's enactment volition not necessitate an extended shutdown. Work volition absorption connected raising the roadworthy and moving metropolis infrastructure retired of the enactment country for an upcoming provincial task to instal a roundabout to nexus the Princess Margaret Bridge with the Marysville bypass. 

Road closures required

Some different projects volition necessitate roadworthy closures. 

Work connected Northumberland Street will continue, closing the thoroughfare from Brunswick Street to Saunders Street. 

Crockett Street from Long Court to Canada Street will beryllium closed for astir of the summertime arsenic h2o and sewer infrastructure is replaced to support up with the increasing neighbourhood. A caller progressive proscription link, akin to the caller cross-town way conception connected Smythe Street will besides beryllium added. 

Lincoln Road from Wilsey Road to the way crossing volition also be closed for the summertime arsenic the roadworthy is raised to amended flood resiliency. That volition mean, akin to 2 years ago, a lengthy detour up Wilsey Road. 

Finally, tiny closures are planned for the Westmorland Street bridge attack connected Cliffe Street and enactment taking spot on Union, Babbitt and Gill streets. That enactment is for improved sewer and h2o infrastructure. 

The Nashwaak way span volition besides beryllium closed for the summer to let for caller decking and railings. The Gibson Trail tin inactive beryllium accessed by Union Street. 

Paving is planned for ample sections of Regent, York and St. Mary's streets.