Residents in a west-Saint John neighbourhood are playing the waiting game over concerns about the impact erosion is having on a well-travelled but unstable road in front of their homes.
Some residents on Sand Cove Road fear it could be a ticking time-bomb, and the city is looking at ways to resolve the issue. They met with officials Thursday night and looked over a study that offers options to deal with the issue, including building a new road around the problem area and a breakwater on the water side.
READ MORE: Saint John residents mull options to deal with erosion threatening homes
The city said it needs to complete further study on the issue and perform a cost analysis of the options.
John L’Aventure has a home is on that road with a stunning view of the Bay of Fundy, but said the residents are “all very worried” about what’s happening.
Residents overwhelmingly favour the breakwater option because it would stabilize the problem.
“If it gives it another 50 or 100 years’ life here, then that would solve everybody’s problem,” L’Aventure said. “Other than that, we really have to look at moving the house, and where to?”
L’Aventure is just one of several homeowners concerned about the impact of erosion, which has been happening over the years but could soon come to a head.
Willa Mavis, who lives next door to L’Aventure, said she feels the road could go at any time.
“People are just sort of wondering which one of us is going to draw the number and it’s going to be our vehicle that’s going to cross the one lane when the road gives out,” she said.
Councillor-at-large Shirley McAlary said she respects what the residents are going through.
“I know that the citizens would be very concerned about what’s going to happen to their properties.,” she said. “Like most people, your life savings is in your property, so we will have to tend to this issue as soon as possible.”
Mavis said the city prefers the road option, which would do nothing to protect the homes in question.
“They are still at risk,” she said. “They said ‘sorry, we don’t take your houses into consideration at all.'”
The new report is due to be complete in a couple of months.
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