Many flooded roads reopen after intense rain storm

Many of the roughly 60 roads that were closed last week because of the flooding in southeastern New Brunswick have now reopened.

The intense rain that fell last week set many records and it also prompted significant flooding in some parts of the province.

Some roads also suffered considerable damage in the storm as large pieces of the asphalt were carried away.

Transportation crews have been working since the storm to fix some of the damaged roads.

So the latest is about 30 of the 60 roads around the province are reopened, said Leah Fitzgerald, a Department of Transportation spokesperson, on Monday.

So weve been able to do repairs that either, we have one lane or open, enough to get the road actually back open."

Fitzgerald said crews are still waiting for flood waters to recede in a couple of areas, particularly Route 935 in the Tantramar area which remains closed.

She said one of the biggest challenges has been finding the correct pipe to replace culverts and getting it to the site.

Transportation Minister Roger Melanson toured some of the damaged roads on Saturday with Charles Boudreau, the district engineer in the Moncton area.

Transportation crews discouraged

Fitzgerald saidcrews have been working all weekend to inspect and repair roads.

She saidthe flooding last week was very similar to the flooding the areaexperienced in April.

"In some cases we've actually had damage to spots that either had recently had been repaired, or were under repair so it's a little disheartening for the crews," Fitzgerald said.

"One of the guys said to me on Thursday afternoon I really wish it had been snow and not rain."

Fitzgerald said shehopes the final road, where some residents remaincut off, should be repaired and passable later on Monday.