Petitcodiac causeway repairs begin

The long-awaited resurfacing of the Petitcodiac River causeway is expected to begin Tuesday, weather permitting.

The causeway, which connects Moncton and Riverview, won't be closed, but motorists can expect delays, said Charles Boudreau, the district engineer with the Department of Transportation.

About 30,000 vehicles cross the causeway each day and the volume of traffic has taken its toll on the pavement.

Motorists have been complaining about the grooves and potholes, so the province is spending $540,000 on repairs.

"This week we will be milling the asphalt, the old asphalt on the causeway and we will asphalt with new asphalt next week," said Boudreau.

Paving should be completed by the end of the month, he said.

One lane will remain open in both directions and we'll try to avoid working during peak hours."

Still, Boudreau is urging motorists to be patient and be prepared to adjust their travel time accordingly.

In March, officials with the town of Riverview called on the provincial government to repair the causeway. Dave Muir, the chief administrative officer, said little work had been done on the town's link to Moncton — and drivers had resorted to avoiding the outside lanes entirely.

In 2007, the Graham government announced plans to replace the causeway with a 280-metre, four-lane bridge. At that time, officials said the next step was to secure funding from the federal government.

The causeway was constructed in 1968 with federal funding.