LOWER COVERDALE, N.B. – People living near Moncton are trying to work their way around a road closure and extra long detours after recent flooding opened up sinkholes on a section of Highway 114.
The affected stretch of road has been blocked for several days, although residents can walk along the closed road.
Michael Thomson, who lives on the south end of the blockade, says he’s been parking his vehicle on the north end and walking home.
He says it’s an inconvenience, but he is worried about what could happen in an emergency if crews have to take a 45-minute detour around the blockade.
“I think a lot of people are concerned about what would happen in the event of an emergency,” he said. “Emergency vehicles need to get around. People are worried about that.”
Jeff Milton was also at the site, and said the section of highway needs a more permanent fix.
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“This is unreal. This is an ongoing thing,” he said. “It’s been doing this for years and it keeps washing away and they don’t do anything about it.”
Parking is an option, but Aaron Howe, the manager of Boreview Farms, which is near the blockade, says it’s not ideal.
He says cars parked along the shoulder can get in the way of transport truck drivers leaving his property.
“Tractor trailers…got to swing pretty wide to get out and if they’re hugging the driveway, it’s challenging,” he said.
Massive flooding has ripped through many roads in southeastern New Brunswick.
On Sunday, water broke through culverts in Notre Dame, washing out roads and back yards.
Work crews are repairing one of the community’s main roads, but side roads are still closed.
Jane Tingley, who works at a physiotherapy clinic south of the blockade in Lower Coverdale, says the closure will continue to hurt business until the road reopens.
“A lot of our patients we recommend they come a couple of times a week for their recovery,” she said. “But because of the road closures they’re finding it hard to come around.”
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