Flood damage repairs continue across Maritimes

Days after record rainfall amounts flooded many areas of the Maritimes, some roads remain closed. 

People on P.E.I. are being asked to stay away from flooded areas as crews work to repair damage caused by heavy rains.

The Department of Transportation says the damage is significant in some areas and poses a safety risk.

It says people should avoid removing barriers from the flooded areas because of possible dangers.

The department says crews are working to establish more permanent barriers in washed-out areas.

On P.E.I. there were still about 20 roads fully or partially closed to traffic Saturday evening. 

Darren Chaisson, director of highway maintenance for the province, says about 100 government and contract workers are out this weekend repairing roads.  

He hopes to have 12 more roads re-opened in the coming days, the rest within the week.  

The following are estimated to take six to eight weeks to rebuild/repair:

• Part of route 2 in Rosebank,
• Route 151 in Huntley,
• Allan Road in Tyne Valley,
• Route 131 in Arlington. 

Other provinces busy with clean up

In Nova Scotia, people at the Royal Canadian Legion in Elmsdale — that was surrounded by water two days ago — are assessing the damage to the basement. Fans and dehumidifiers are drying out the basement and drywall is being ripped out.

The Legion suffered a major flood in 2003 and it cost $75,000 to repair. Because the Legion sits on a flood plain, it can't get flood insurance. 

"It's a pretty big setback at this time of year, everybody has a lot to do but we have a good membership and a lot of volunteers and we shall prevail in this here matter," said legion president Mike Fraser.

Several sump pumps are kept in the basement at the Legion but they just couldn't compete with the water that came in.

"I mean, when you build on a flood plain, you can't very well rebuild down here because you'll just be looking at it again in a couple of years, probably. So that'll go to the executive and we'll make a decision," said Fraser, who says hte clean up should be complete in time for the New Year's Eve dinner and dance.

In southeastern New Brunswick, a few dozen roads remain impassable. 

New Brunswick's minister of transportation, Roger Melanson, toured the damage caused by recent floods outside Moncton Saturday afternoon.

Melanson took a look at a ravine in a road in Upper Aboujagne. It was caused by heavy rains that dug cracks in roads and washed out culverts. Residents are making a detour around the road right now.

"When you come, yourself, and actually see the damage, it really puts it into perspective how serious it is. Just to give you an example, this site here, early estimates just to fix this one here would be around $1 million," he said.