[Moncton] East (Harrisville, Lewisville, Tankville, Irishtown) Developments

[MonctonRad]

Apparently Leisure Time RV is going to move from the MID Park on Edinburgh Drive to one of the new lots backing on the TCH on Price Street in the Moncton East Business Park.

[habs33]

They have a picture of this posted on their FB
https://www.facebook.com/LeisureTimeMoncton/

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Apparently Leisure Time RV is going to move from the MID Park on Edinburgh Drive to one of the new lots backing on the TCH on Price Street in the Moncton East Business Park.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by habs33

They have a picture of this posted on their FB
https://www.facebook.com/LeisureTimeMoncton/

So it looks like they're the ones building right next to the Mapleton Pharmacy location then.

They will certainly have stellar visibility from traffic passing by on the TCH, which would be important for a business like theirs.

[MonctonRad]

They have also started site prep for the new Nova International Kubota dealership on Price Street in the Moncton East Business Park

[habs33]

Heard from an employee that the new McD will open Wednesday.

[MonctonRad]

There is now active construction going on at four different sites in the new Moncton East Business Park, all backing on the TCH for visibility from passing traffic.

- Kubota International
- Leisure Time RV
- unnamed leasable warehouse building
- a fourth lot which is still a mystery.

As the business park builds out, this will fundamentally change the experience of driving down the TCH here, especially with the Caledonia Industrial Park backing the other side of the highway. The TCH was formerly just a bypass around the city. Over the last 10 years, the highway has been seeing more commuter traffic and is becoming more and more an urban expressway.

[Taeolas]

Sounds like the City and the Province should start planning for the future.

While I know adding lanes isn't really liked, expanding the TCH to 3 lanes may be needed as a medium term project; something for the next decade or so.

But at the same time, they should also be thinking of a ring bypass around the city eventually. A north ring would be the natural expectation, but looking at the highway as it currently is, maybe they should consider a southern bypass. It crosses the river twice, but it might be a way to encourage more growth for Riverview and the southern end of the cities.

[MonctonRad]

Yes, well, what I mean is that the character of the highway is beginning to change dramatically.

I can recall back when the TCH bypass was first built, way back in the 70s. It was undivided at that point, and ran through the wilderness, with nary a house or business in sight. It seemed to take forever to circumnavigate the city back then, mostly because there were no landmarks around to guide your passage. It was just interminable trees after trees after trees.

The highway now of course is fully divided, and development has crept outwards far enough that for more than half the distance of the bypass, there seems to be something built along the way - industrial parks, hotels, Costco, casino etc.

What the Moncton East Business Park is doing is providing a long stretch of roadway where there will be development on both sides on the TCH, thus making the highway seem even more like it is actually passing through the city rather than just around it. There are areas around Elmwood, Mapleton and Mountain Road like that too. This progression of the TCH towards being an urban expressway is going to continue into the future.

Now, I don't really envisage the need to expand the TCH to six lanes any time soon. The traffic just isn't that bad - yet, but there has been a noticeable increase in cross town commuter traffic over the last few years, especially with the Caledonia Industrial Park and now Costco. For some things, it is just easier going cross town on the TCH rather than Wheeler Blvd.

As for a southern bypass around Riverview, that is really hard to imagine ever happening. In many ways this would shorten the journey around Moncton for through traffic, but would be insanely expensive, especially with the need for two bridge crossings of the Petitcodiac.

[L'homard]

I hope they don't build a northern bypass in my lifetime. We want people to drive into Moncton, not around it.
That being said, it is astounding the increase in traffic on north Elmwood compared with just a few years ago. Now with the new school going in, and a new subdivision approved last week for the Kelly Road area, there goes any chance of another clover leaf @McLaughlin and the TCH. (You will remember the developers' plans showed a off.on ramp at McLaughlin via Kelly Road.
Now, I will be the first to step up against an off ramp that circles the Kelly Rd. residents' homes, as was proposed, so what now is the alternative I wonder.
Traffic is nuts on the TCH and on Elmwood where they intersect. Just like when the Mapleton Road got developed, there seems to be no plan in place for coping with all the cars. I guess we'll just see the same thing we saw on Mapleton, a series of inadequate measures being put in place, every few years, until the improved infrastructure ever manages to catch up the growth in traffic several years down the road.
It's unnecessary, horribly expensive to do road improvements this way, and it's a PITA for area residents for the next decade or more.

[Nashe]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I can recall back when the TCH bypass was first built, way back in the 70s. It was undivided at that point, and ran through the wilderness, with nary a house or business in sight. It seemed to take forever to circumnavigate the city back then, mostly because there were no landmarks around to guide your passage. It was just interminable trees after trees after trees.

It's funny you should mention that.
I have vague childhood memories of traveling to Moncton from my home town (Rexton) before the 11 was built (just the 134 existed). I remember that depending on what stores we were visiting we'd take different routes into the city. More direct (to Eatons and downtown): we'd continue in on Shediac Road. If we were heading to the north east (K-Mart Plaza) we'd carry on to Mapleton on the TCH. It's only a few miles, but I remember dreading that "extension" through nowhere. I guess it's an example of time compression when younger. I also have memories of going to Moncton on the 495, 525 to the 115 (Irishtown) before the highway existed... if we were starting from my grandparents house. Trips to Moncton happened not even every month. A couple of times per year, actually! (mid 70's)

[josh_cat_eyes]

Something I would like to see is another exist between Salisbury and Berry Mills allowing for access to the Boundary Creek area. Ideally I’d like to see another crossing of the Pedicodiac located here too. On the eastern side, a crossing at Melanson road & Bridgedale WILL be required in the next 20 years. By this point, the 114 will be diverted onto bridgedale before going back down gunningsville. I suspect this to happen within the medium term, 3-7 years down the road. I am also somewhat surprised that a crossing of the river was never attempted closer to Hillsborough at some point in history. The benefits for albert county to be connected to the rest of westmorland county would be immense!

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by L'homard

I hope they don't build a northern bypass in my lifetime. We want people to drive into Moncton, not around it.
That being said, it is astounding the increase in traffic on north Elmwood compared with just a few years ago. Now with the new school going in, and a new subdivision approved last week for the Kelly Road area, there goes any chance of another clover leaf @McLaughlin and the TCH. (You will remember the developers' plans showed a off.on ramp at McLaughlin via Kelly Road.
Now, I will be the first to step up against an off ramp that circles the Kelly Rd. residents' homes, as was proposed, so what now is the alternative I wonder.

I don't think a new TCH exit at McLaughlin is completely off the table, but the design of such an exit is still up in the air. A McLaughlin exit would be very beneficial, especially with the Granite Centre and Costco, since there is a second point of access to these developments off of McLaughlin Drive. A McLaughlin/TCH interchange therefore would do a lot to decrease congestion on the Elmwood/TCH interchange.

Otherwise, as I've said, I don't think we are at the point (yet) of widening the TCH to six lanes but improvements could be made at some of the exits. Why we haven't seen traffic lights at the off ramps at the TCH/Mapleton exits yet I'll never know. Their absence is criminal and one of these days there will be a horrible accident here.............

[OliverD]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I can recall back when the TCH bypass was first built, way back in the 70s. It was undivided at that point, and ran through the wilderness, with nary a house or business in sight. It seemed to take forever to circumnavigate the city back then, mostly because there were no landmarks around to guide your passage. It was just interminable trees after trees after trees.

When was the highway twinned in the Moncton area?

Just recently I drove the old highway from River Glade into Moncton for the first time since the new highway opened, and also route 112 between Salisbury and Coles Island. It was a bit nostalgic.

I'm kind of surprised that the ideas of new bypasses and additional lanes keep coming up here. I know we all like seeing shiny new things built but at this point it's quite clear that building new roads like these is mostly a negative thing.

[mylesmalley]

Even with the city growing like it is, I can't see any new or widened highways needed here for decades. The TCH isn't busy at all, even for Maritime standards for what counts as a 'busy' highway. Before anything major is ever needed, interchange improvements, removing the last few level rail crossings etc will be enough.

Everything about the Elmwood, Granite, Caledonia and TCH area is a paragon of terrible planning. It was already bad 10 years ago with the ramps onto Caledonia and every construction season just makes it worse. Something will need to be done to route some traffic onto McLaughlin.

I agree a that an exit toward Boundary Creek would be nice but a long shot. We'll see one connecting Aviation / Melanson to the TCH in Dieppe first.

[MonctonRad]

Site prep is now underway for this project next to Harrisville Blvd.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by josh_cat_eyes

Something I would like to see is another exist between Salisbury and Berry Mills allowing for access to the Boundary Creek area. Ideally I’d like to see another crossing of the Pedicodiac located here too.

Putting in offramps on the TCH where it crosses Lower Mountain Road would pretty much accomplish access to the Boundary Creek area. I doubt we will ever see a new crossing of the Petitcodiac in this area though.

Originally Posted by josh_cat_eyes

On the eastern side, a crossing at Melanson road & Bridgedale WILL be required in the next 20 years. By this point, the 114 will be diverted onto bridgedale before going back down gunningsville. I suspect this to happen within the medium term, 3-7 years down the road.

Yes, the plan is to divert the 114 onto Bridgedale Blvd at some point, mostly to improve inbound access to Gunningsville Blvd, Findley Park, and to speed access to the Gunningsville Bridge. This will also remove commuter traffic from eastern Albert County to Hillsborough Road. I'm not sure of the time frame though, but you may be correct.

As for a crossing of the Petitcodiac from Melanson Road to the (future) Bridgedale Blvd, this seems to make obvious sense when you look at a map, but a proper business case would have to be made. Just how much traffic volume would there be from southern Dieppe to Riverview East. My gut feeling is that there wouldn't be a lot, but that isn't to say that such a crossing couldn't serve as a business generator...........

Originally Posted by josh_cat_eyes

I am also somewhat surprised that a crossing of the river was never attempted closer to Hillsborough at some point in history. The benefits for albert county to be connected to the rest of westmorland county would be immense!

I agree wholeheartedly. It makes little sense for tourists wanting to experience the Fundy Trail/Fundy Park route to have to detour all the way into Moncton. I'm sure a lot of tourists find this a nuisance and an annoyance. The ideal route would be to take the 925 southbound from Memramcook to Pre d'en Haut, continuing straight across the Petitcodiac to join with the 114 just before Hillsborough.

[Sandbagger]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

As for a crossing of the Petitcodiac from Melanson Road to the (future) Bridgedale Blvd, this seems to make obvious sense when you look at a map, but a proper business case would have to be made. Just how much traffic volume would there be from southern Dieppe to Riverview East. My gut feeling is that there wouldn't be a lot, but that isn't to say that such a crossing couldn't serve as a business generator...........

There are many Albert County and East Riverview residents who work in the Dieppe industrial park. Crossing at Melanson and up Dieppe Blvd would take some pressure off of Gunningsville bridge, Main st and Champlain.

[josh_cat_eyes]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Putting in offramps on the TCH where it crosses Lower Mountain Road would pretty much accomplish access to the Boundary Creek area. I doubt we will ever see a new crossing of the Petitcodiac in this area though.



Yes, the plan is to divert the 114 onto Bridgedale Blvd at some point, mostly to improve inbound access to Gunningsville Blvd, Findley Park, and to speed access to the Gunningsville Bridge. This will also remove commuter traffic from eastern Albert County to Hillsborough Road. I'm not sure of the time frame though, but you may be correct.

As for a crossing of the Petitcodiac from Melanson Road to the (future) Bridgedale Blvd, this seems to make obvious sense when you look at a map, but a proper business case would have to be made. Just how much traffic volume would there be from southern Dieppe to Riverview East. My gut feeling is that there wouldn't be a lot, but that isn't to say that such a crossing couldn't serve as a business generator...........



I agree wholeheartedly. It makes little sense for tourists wanting to experience the Fundy Trail/Fundy Park route to have to detour all the way into Moncton. I'm sure a lot of tourists find this a nuisance and an annoyance. The ideal route would be to take the 925 southbound from Memramcook to Pre d'en Haut, continuing straight across the Petitcodiac to join with the 114 just before Hillsborough.

I think there is multiple places between the current bridge and Hillsborough where an extra bridge would make sense. Unfortunately it doesn’t make economic sense for each location to be built.
1. Traffic Circle - Bridgedale Blvd
There is already a ROW, this road still remains on Riverviews future roads map after decades.
2. Melanson Road - Bridgedale Blvd
This bridge seems more likely to be built than the traffic circle one, however, there is a very good possibility that one of the two does in fact get built in the next 20 years. Which ever one gets built, will likely hold off the other from getting built for at least a couple of generations if it even gets built at all.
3. Upper Dover - Niagara Road
If the traffic circle bridge were to get built, it’s very likely that there would be no need for a bridge to melanson road. However there still could be a need for a road further south, connecting to lower Coverdale. By this point, this could very well be inside the town boundaries of Riverview, or have some sort of municipal status of its own.
4. Dover - Stoney Creek
If a Melanson Road bridge is built, there would be no need for a bridge in lower Coverdale, but as the area expands, there could be a a case to be made for a “southern bypass” of lower Coverdale where. Road could extend from the Pine Glenn to the 114 in Stoney Creek before crossing the river over to Dover.
5. Pre-D’En-Haut - Weldon/Hillsborough
If one of either the Traffic Circle bridge or the Melanson road bridge is ever built, there would only ever be a need for one more bridge further south. While the other bridges would focus more on traffic going south from Riverview to get to Dieppe, this bridge would focus more on opening up Hillsborough to the expanded economic area of south east NB, not to mention how much easier to would be for tourists to travel along the whole fundy coast without having to travel through the busy traffic in Moncton. It would also likely be faster to get to the Hospital that is in Sackville than having to drive to Moncton where the hospital is likely to be busier anyway.

All this being said, I probably support the creation of 3 bridges, perhaps only 1 or maybe two of would be in my lifetime (I’m 29) Those bridges would be the Traffic circle bridge, the Niagara road bridge, and the Hillsborough bridge.

[L'homard]

Originally Posted by josh_cat_eyes

I am also somewhat surprised that a crossing of the river was never attempted closer to Hillsborough at some point in history. The benefits for albert county to be connected to the rest of westmorland county would be immense!

There used to be a covered bridge between the Dorchester area and Albert County way back in the days of yore.
I don't know anything about it - heck, maybe I'm imagining it - but it would seem logical back when Dorchester was the seat of government for Westmorland County and the area across the river was a busy boatbuilding centre, gypsum exporter and the east coast's centre of petroleum and natural gas production. (They used to supply downtown Moncton with natural gas for home heating, businesses and street lighting.)
I am told by the old timers down in the Pre d'En Haut area that you can still see where the bridge was, but you have to know where to look.

[L'homard]

Originally Posted by L'homard

There used to be a covered bridge between the Dorchester area and Albert County way back in the days of yore.
I don't know anything about it - heck, maybe I'm imagining it - but it would seem logical back when Dorchester was the seat of government for Westmorland County and the area across the river was a busy boatbuilding centre, gypsum exporter and the east coast's centre of petroleum and natural gas production. (They used to supply downtown Moncton with natural gas for home heating, businesses and street lighting.)
I am told by the old timers down in the Pre d'En Haut area that you can still see where the bridge was, but you have to know where to look.

EDIT: Duh! Shudda just googled it.

https://www.hippostcard.com/listing/...anada/15425159