Street construction in south end to start in May

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SAINT JOHN • Roadwork related to the new school in the south peninsula is planned to start in May and run through the end of October, the city says.

The street reconstruction on parts of Charlotte Street and St. James Street, as well as the intersection at Broad Street, “will have a considerable impact on traffic and residents in this area during construction,” according to a staff report at council’s meeting last Tuesday.

The work includes new storm sewers as well as watermain and sanitary sewer renewal, and helps support the planned Southern Peninsula school project, according to the report.

The City of Saint John and consultants Englobe held public information sessions Wednesday at Trinity Church to give residents a chance to ask questions about the work. Englobe’s Andrew Melanson said during the afternoon session that a handful of residents and business owners had come in with “general questions” on how the project would play out, including time frame.

Work on the project will start in May with the intersection at Charlotte and Lower Cove Loop, with the contract specifying that one lane of traffic be open at all times, city engineer Kevin O’Brien said. Work will then go up the hill, including underground work on St. James and Ross Streets. There will be “limited access” for nearby residents as work progresses, with detour signs posted as needed, O’Brien said. The contract calls for completion by the end of October, according to O’Brien.

O’Brien said that the work would “improve access for all users” and will include a new curb and sidewalk. Other features include a dedicated bike lane and enhanced crosswalks with “tactile warning surface indicator” system and curb extensions.

At Saint John common council, CAO Brent McGovern said that the city, province and Anglophone School District South are continuing work on the south-end school, as well as the north-end school, and their associated community hubs.

“There are several subcommittees that continue to work through various matters such as parking and public access, shared use, traffic and engineering and construction-related questions,” McGovern said.

The two school projects are slated to open September 2026, McGovern said.