The Official Moncton, NB Project Thread

[macas539]

It's nice to see all of the infrastructure projects planned in the city, for whatever reason the development of roads and intersections really interests me. But, one question that I do have, and maybe it's been answered on this form already, is why does the city of Moncton not put up a signalized intersection where Church St. meets St. George street?

I tried to go straight through this intersection at a peak traffic period and let's just say it's nearly impossible as traffic barely breaks in either direction left or right at the same time on St. George allowing me to proceed straight through. After sitting there for almost 10 minutes I finally just made a right turn onto St. George and abandoned any hope of proceeding straight through. I was heading south on Church St trying to make my way to Main St.

I lived in Toronto for 2 years and faced heavy traffic daily, but this intersection is horrible with just a stop for drivers on Church St. At the very least, the city could make it a 4-way stop if traffic lights are too costly. I am really surprised there aren't multiple accidents there every year.

I know there is a railway line that runs pretty close to the intersection and I think perhaps that has something to do with why there is no traffic light there, but still, as traffic volumes continue to grow in Moncton there must be some way of signalizing this intersection!

Any thoughts on this? Or am I just crazy and everyone else thinks it's fine.

[mylesmalley]

I think it probably has a lot to do with thru-traffic. With Botsford just a block or two away, you've probably got the majority of traffic going from Mountain to Main that way.

[C_Boy]

Originally Posted by macas539

So I take the resurfacing of the causeway to mean any plans to remove it have ceased? $610,000 is a lot to invest in something if they were planning on removing it anytime within the next couple of years.

I hope this is just unwarranted fear. That causeway needs to go!!

The government isin't too scared to spend and then replace...they are putting money into Moncton High and building a new one. 2 Million in repairs I believe.

[Sony500]

My biggest problem with this intersection is the cars that are heading east and want to turn left on Church St. don't use the road before the tracks making it easier for drivers who are going straight as described in the second previous post. They keep going over the tracks and then turning left.

[macas539]

Originally Posted by Sony500

My biggest problem with this intersection is the cars that are heading east and want to turn left on Church St. don't use the road before the tracks making it easier for drivers who are going straight as described in the second previous post. They keep going over the tracks and then turning left.

I agree, but honestly, I don't think it's clear enough that you can turn left onto that road before the tracks. I honestly thought it was just an exit for cars turning right onto St. George.

Maybe if a traffic light is not a possibility some better lane and road markings would be in order!

[Sony500]

I realize that most people probably think its a one way, it is quite narrow.
That's why I have a little bit of patience when it comes to that intersection.

[Sony500]

I haven't heard too much about it, but, I believe the PC government is in no hurry to do anything about the causeway gates. I was against them opening up the causeway, but now that i see the progress of the river, I do believe that they should move forward with the project. BUT they have to do something soon. The silt is building up and now there are dead trees sitting on top of it. The lake looks terrible, and is an eye sore. At this point, I don't care what they do, just do something.

[MonctonRad]

Agree 100%

I also wasn't necessarily a fan of opening the causeway gates to begin with, but having seen how vigourous the river system has become since they have been opened, I have become a convert.

The "lake" side of the causeway is definitely silting in though (as I predicted) and, if one of the goals of this exercise was to widen the river channel, we only have a narrow window of opportunity to remove the causeway before it becomes too late to achieve this aim.

I fear that the Conservatives are in no mood to spend $100M to do this and the causeway will therefore remain in place until there is no longer any point in actually removing it. We will ultimately end up with the Petitcodiac Stream rather than the mighty Petitcodiac River.

[Sunnybrae]

Am I missing something? Was there a study done saying the river would be silt free if the causeway is removed? I would think it would return it to its natural meander. Pre 1967 pictures show alot of silt at the headpond area.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Sunnybrae

Am I missing something? Was there a study done saying the river would be silt free if the causeway is removed? I would think it would return it to its natural meander. Pre 1967 pictures show alot of silt at the headpond area.

No, the river is and always will be the "muddy Petitcodiac". The main difference is that with the (un)natural choke point of the causeway, the river will end up being 100m wide instead of 1 km wide.

[Sunnybrae]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

No, the river is and always will be the "muddy Petitcodiac". The main difference is that with the (un)natural choke point of the causeway, the river will end up being 100m wide instead of 1 km wide.

I think I might be in the minority when it comes to the beauty of the petty. Its like an ever changing sculpture. I hope they remove the causeway and the mud flats remain. Everytime I go near the river, I can't take my eyes off it. I pitty the people who live by the "old" lake and can't see what I see, my brother included who fought to keep the gates closed.

[curious]

What is going in the old smitty's location on mountain road?

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Sunnybrae

I think I might be in the minority when it comes to the beauty of the petty. Its like an ever changing sculpture. I hope they remove the causeway and the mud flats remain. Everytime I go near the river, I can't take my eyes off it

No, I know exactly what you mean. The riverfront trails are all fascinating to walk on. It's wondrous to see all the wildlife present even in the heart of the city. The meanders of the river do change from season to season.

The mudflats to the west of the causeway will silt in and gradually convert to marshland, just like they have done to the east of the causeway. In another 20 years, you won't be able to tell which side of the causeway that you are on. It really wouldn't be a catastophe to leave the causeway in place.

Still, the river has a storied history and children in the future (or even now for that matter) won't believe that ocean going vessels used to ply the river as far inland as the bend. I personally find that rather sad.

I would like to see as much of the rivers width restored as possible. Even 200-250m would be enough for me. That would still leave plenty of marshland along the banks of the river downtown for bird watching.

Originally Posted by curious

What is going in the old smitty's location on mountain road?

There's a sign out front showing a rendering of what is planned but I haven't seen it close up. It won't be a restaurant anyway. I believe they are planning on commercial office or retail space. I don't think it's actually leased yet.

Does anyone else have any ideas?

[macas539]

Does anyone know anything about the Lewisville Rd widening project at Shediac Rd?

I read in the Times and Transcript today they are widening it from the intersection to the ramps of the 15. The article also mentioned a re-alignment of the intersection at the end of the Shediac Rd.

How would they re-align this? I didn't think there was any problem with the alignment the way it currently is.

[Sony500]

We had a few ideas awhile back what they could do with that intersection, maybe they are going to take some of our ideas into consideration???

[macas539]

Originally Posted by Sony500

We had a few ideas awhile back what they could do with that intersection, maybe they are going to take some of our ideas into consideration???

I really hope they make it so that there are at least 2 lanes going straight through the intersection when you're heading towards Shediac Rd on Lewisville.

Right now the right lane exits onto Shediac Rd. and it looks like there is space for a second thru lane, but it's marked so that you can't drive over it.

I hope as well that maybe the houses at the intersection will be either moved or torn down. I wouldn't mind that, they seem very out of place there, it should be commercial development only there.

[brod3211]

So, has anybody heard anything about the calming robichauds plans? They had a meeting on may 25th, but did he get whT he wanted!?

[mylesmalley]

Since there's clearly a lane already there but painted over, to make Lewisville 4 lanes for its entire length, I assume they must mean doing that, and adding a dedicated left turn lane from Lewisville onto Shediac Road. They might even add an additional dedicated right-turn lane from Rt 15 to Shediac Rd à la the new one they added from Rt 15 into the Champlain Place parking lot along Paul last summer.

It's too bad they didn't widen Botsford to 4 lanes two years ago instead of just three. That way, we'd have a proper 4-lane road all the way from Mountain to Champlain.

[macas539]

It is indeed a shame about Botsford street being only 3 lanes. One thing I have noticed about the way New Brunswick does road widening projects is they tend to do them half-assed.

I just wish they would be proactive and do things all at once. I know the traffic demands might not warrant a full 4-lane road along Botsford right now, but surely it will someday soon and since they were already in the process of widening it why not just go the extra step and add the second lane while they're there!

Another example of classic NB half-assed road work: The Berry Mills road @ Horseman.

[mylesmalley]

Originally Posted by macas539

It is indeed a shame about Botsford street being only 3 lanes. One thing I have noticed about the way New Brunswick does road widening projects everything is they tend to do them half-assed.

I've taken the liberty of fixing this for you.