Achi news desk-
Not much has changed since CTV News last visited a road closure site on New Brunswick’s Route 106 just over a month ago.
It is the main link between the communities of Sackville, NB, and Dorchester, NB, but heavy rains in late March damaged the culvert causing the closure on April 1.
There is a diversion on a nearby secondary road, but it is narrow and parts of it are in rough shape.
The residents of the area want to fix the culvert and are frustrated and the work has not started yet.
Darlene Turner is the manager of Gitpu Tobacco and Gas, located a few kilometers away from the closure.
“It affects us a lot. Deliveries are even late because they have to go all the way around too,” Turner said. “The sale has had a big impact. If everyone goes around, they don’t get through.”
Richard Robichaud-Logan lives in Memramcook, NB, and said the diversion was a bit of a hassle for him.
“Everything from travel distance to work, to leaving early, to gas prices. It’s a big impact not only on myself but on a lot of people in the community as well,” said Robichaud-Logan.
A section of Route 106 in New Brunswick, which connects Sackville and Dorchester, is seen in a photo taken on May 6, 2024.
Dorchester resident Geoffrey Hargreaves is also frustrated and worried about the safety of people in the area.
“The effect of the road closure on me personally is the wear and tear on my car, the cost of petrol and the extra time,” Hargreaves said. “If someone gets sick or hurt here, it’s going to take a lot longer for the ambulance and things to get to them.”
Nicole Porter is the Mi’kmaq cultural coordinator at nearby Fort Folly First Nation.
He said the community is planning a fundraiser to raise money for an upcoming youth powwow.
“We want the public to come out and support that, support our bake sale, support our youth,” Porter said. “That’s up in the air on how successful that will be. Also, for National Indigenous Peoples Day We invite guests to come, but they will have to detour around if this road doesn’t improve.”
According to NB 511, the province’s website that updates residents on traffic and construction projects, the government anticipates work will be completed by May 31, but has not been updated since April 2.
“They’ve put May 31 on the website, but I don’t think that’s likely at this point,” said Megan Mitton, the MLA for Tantramar-Memramcook. “We don’t know how long it’s going to take. It would be nice to have that information.”
The Green MLA said that her constituents were concerned and that the diversion was a great inconvenience to them.
“It is closed for the foreseeable future. It is inconvenient for travel. There are concerns about safety. I think there is concern about the upcoming tourist season,” said Mitton.
Mitton said she has spoken to the Department of Transport and Infrastructure (DTI) about the repairs and has encouraged them, without cutting corners on safety, to see how things can move faster.
“This is a priority,” he said.
CTV News contacted the DTI for comment, but did not receive a response in time for publication.
On April 2, a spokesperson for the DTI said that planning work was underway for future repairs, but did not say when or how long the work would take.
For more New Brunswick news visit our dedicated provincial page.
