© Google 2021.

A troublesome intersection in Saint John will be reconfigured.

Funding from all three levels of government exceeding $ 8 million will see Retail Drive at Rothesay Avenue redesigned and raised to prevent future flooding.

Tim O’Reilly, the City of Saint John’s Director of Public Works and Transportation, said the two intersections in this area on Rothesay Avenue will become one.

“It’s very difficult for people to get through now. It creates inefficiencies and issues for people so that’s the biggest improvement. [We will] get those intersections lined up, have a new section of Retail Drive built up to the East Point development site,” O’Reilly said.

Trevor Holder, Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, spoke at Monday’s announcement in Saint John on behalf of Réjean Savoie, Minister Responsible for the Regional Development Corporation.

“This investment will raise a section of the roadway where we have seen persistent flooding and will help support the expansion of the East Point shopping district by reconstructing a section of Retail Drive. This project is a great example of how investing in infrastructure and climate adaptation projects can lead to improved safety, as well as economic growth,” Holder said.

The project also includes an upgraded stormwater sewer system and an expansion of the sanitary sewer capacity to reduce the risk of flooding and sewer backups.

It will also see improvements to upgraded pedestrian signals with sound, a countdown, and accessible ramps for improved pedestrian and motorist safety, as well as the addition of railway crossing gates and traffic signal pre-emption in the event of an approaching train.

$2.5M to reconfigure Retail Drive and more as announced by Saint John Rothesay MP Wayne along. pic.twitter.com/UYDOndIkdS

— Tamara Steele (@tamarasteele1) December 5, 2022