April 23, 2014 by The Canadian Press
FREDERICTON – Spring flooding has already caused millions of dollars in damage to New Brunswick’s roads and bridges, the province’s transportation minister said Wednesday.
Claude Williams said crews are making repairs as quickly as possible, but it may take weeks to reopen some routes.
”Crews all over the province are doing some assessment and evaluations and doing cost estimates to look at repair or major construction,” he said.
”Once we get all that information, decisions will be made as to when that can be done.”
Williams said the province will apply to the federal government for financial assistance. The province can apply once damage has topped $750,000.
”We are documenting everything because every dollar that I can get from the federal government to invest on infrastructure will be more than welcome,” Williams said.
River Watch officials said Wednesday that mild temperatures and significant rainfall were forecast across the entire province for the next two days.
They said residents in all regions should remain on alert for ice movement and rising water levels.
Public Safety Minister Bruce Northrup said crews have been quick to inspect homes that were flooded last week in the Sussex and Woodstock areas.
”We’re trying to get people back to their normal way of life as quick as we can, but it is going to take time,” he said.
Northrup said there is still a lot of snow in northern New Brunswick and ice jams remain in many rivers and streams.
Repair work underway on Rte. 114 in #LowerCoverdale #NB @CTVAtlantic pic.twitter.com/7p3AdmmFKr
— Jonathan MacInnis (@macinnisCTV) April 23, 2014
The force of nature on exhibit today in Bull’s Creek, below Woodstock. Ice jam aftermath. #NBFlood pic.twitter.com/cGw8WTxlvB
— Calvin Milbury (@CalvinMilbury) April 21, 2014
L’embâcle de #PerthAndover à Beechwood fait 17 km selon nos calculs. Les glaces continuent à s’y accumuler. #rcac pic.twitter.com/1u2SaezMl5
— Julie-Anne Lapointe (@JuLapointeRC) April 20, 2014
#nbflood14 Morell Park Fredericton,NB, Saturday,April 19th. pic.twitter.com/K4W5Z9mNG8
— Sheila McPhee (@sheilamcphee) April 19, 2014
Ice jam in Muniac officials are worried ice mass will hit and jam water towards Perth-Andover @Global_NB #nbflood14 pic.twitter.com/FHNyZ5jHzC
— Laura Brown (@01LBrown) April 19, 2014
Our teams still aiding about 20 #flood evacuees fr #PerthAndover NB + 10 fr #Sussex. #beready http://t.co/0XZ8Y0eOgx pic.twitter.com/BMD4xpFlCt
— CanRedCrossATL (@CanRedCrossATL) April 18, 2014
Premier in Sussex surveying the damage.#nbflood pic.twitter.com/yX6WcVgcEW
— Nathan Coleman (@NateTWN) April 17, 2014
Tim Hortons in Sussex downtown is closed apparently. Flood waters rising in town centre. #nb pic.twitter.com/Zry7VE8QSz
— Neville Crabbe (@Neville_C) April 16, 2014
St. John River is on the rise as ice moves and jams. Ice backing up in Burton. #RiverWatch #NBFlood pic.twitter.com/Unt9cfdwbK
— Calvin Milbury (@CalvinMilbury) April 16, 2014
Route 8 #nbflood14 #NBRiverwatch pic.twitter.com/U8OKANupGb
— Tyler Moir (@tmoir27) April 16, 2014
RT @AshleyDunbarCTV: Snow has began in Sussex pic.twitter.com/MvIyWDjEnd #nbflood14 #SaintJohn #Moncton
— Engineers& Geosc. NB (@APEGNB) April 16, 2014
Highway 8 in Ludlow flood
ed. Water rising fast. #nb #riverwatch #nbflood14 pic.twitter.com/MxnZ3kHls8
— Wes Gullison (@WesGullison) April 16, 2014
Road closure: Route 640 near Hurley Corner. #nbflood14 pic.twitter.com/6guGyxmcvv
— Nick Moore (@NickMooreCTV) April 16, 2014
Awaiting @NBEMO_ONUNB update on #nbflood14. pic.twitter.com/y9vjyyNmWT
— Andy Campbell (@AndyCampbellCTV) April 16, 2014
“@DavidKellyNB: Water is covering the main road through #Norton. Only trucks were trying to get through. #nbflood14 pic.twitter.com/3wxKGAkTJH”
— TrafficNB (@TrafficNB) April 16, 2014
House shopping anyone? Now’s a good time to see what you’re getting into. #nbflood14 pic.twitter.com/SEMKQChpl1
— Manny (@ManualDeVie) April 16, 2014
Ice jam let go at 8:15 last night but the water remains high #nbflood pic.twitter.com/dlA6SGnAKe
— Jomie Jardine (@jomiejardine) April 16, 2014
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