Moncton culvert blamed for flooding to be replaced this summer

It's taken years of negotiations, but an ancient culvert blamed for flooding in the city of Moncton will be replaced this summer.

The culvert sits under the train tracks between West Main Street and the Petitcodiac River and is the responsibility of CN.

The culvert drains water from Jonathan Creek into the Petitcodiac River.

The structure dates back to the late-1800's and has been deemed inadequate.

Some people have had several feet of water in their basement on six to eight occasions since 1999.

The City of Moncton and CN Rail have agreed to split the $7.6 million cost.

"We've been at this, ourselves and CN,since 2013," said AlcideRichard,the director of design and construction for the city'sengineering department.

"We've been pushing very hard and the collaboration between both parties has been great," he said."We've had to hire engineers, finalize design there's a lot of work that's happened in the last two years."

Council approves extra $1M

Richard says the project is crucial."Its important, no question. There's people at risk of flooding," he said.

"It's the first culvert in a series of culverts that has to be improved and without this one we can't do the upstream."

Along with the $3.8 million cost of the culvert, the city will pay $2.2 million for relocation of sewer and water lines, and the realignment of Assomption Boulevard.

City council has approved the project, which Richard says is about $1million more than originally planned.

CN confirms it is moving ahead with the project.

In an email to CBC News, spokesmanPatrick Waldron said, "CN is soliciting contractors for the Jonathan Creek culvert project and expects to proceed with replacement of the culvert this season."

The CN culvert is the first in a series of several culvert improvements the city plans on making, said Richard.

"We're already in the design process for the Jones Lake spillway and the Main Street culvert.So a part of that is a collaborative effort between the province and the city on that one and we're in the detailed design stages," Richard said.

"I won't be able to award that, or go out to tender until I get a sign from CN that we're moving on the other one."

Last June, the provincial and federal governments each contributed $1.1 milliontowardthe project.