Saint John, N.B., motorists only have one more weekend of construction-free driving on the Harbour Bridge.
Beginning Monday, the Saint John Harbour Bridge will be reduced to one lane of traffic in both directions until at least late October for the continued refurbishing on the nearly 60-year-old bridge.
The on and off ramps along Chelsey Drive will also be closed during the course of the work, and will remain closed until late November. The ramp closures have resulted in some changes for Saint John Transit routes.
Motorists can expect delays in traffic in and around the bridge, particularly during the morning and evening rush hours during the weekdays.
Construction for the phased bridge project began in 2021 and could cost as much as $31 million by the time it’s finished in 2027 – up from the project’s initial budget of more than $26 million. The federal and New Brunswick governments announced $15 million in funding for the project in February 2023.
The project entered its final stage in last year, which will include new work on the bridge’s two east end ramps. Ongoing work will continue with the application of new waterproofing and asphalt on the bridge’s deck, with the replacement of expansion joints and bearings.
The provincial government says the construction project is on time to be completed in 2027 and will extend the 1.3 km structure’s lifespan by 30 to 50 years.
The Saint John Harbour Bridge first opened to traffic in August 1968.
-With files from CTV’s Nick Moore.
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