On Saint John’s west side, that first successful trip through Simms Corner is a rite of passage for new drivers. There are stop signs for some, yields for others, multiple lanes and trains a few times a day. In the years ahead, it will be a problem of the past. The intersection, which has part of the provincial-municipal Route 100 Highway run though it, is set to undergo a transformation as part of the $463 million dollars announced Wednesday to upgrade the Saint John Trade Corridor. “Thank God, sorry,” Tammy Bedford of St. Stephen, N.B., tells CTV News Atlantic after learning the intersection is being redone. “It’s been a long time coming as it’s a very dangerous corner and nobody likes it, so it’s a lot less stressful for everybody.” “It’s awesome,” says Maddyson Hartlen. “Whoever is in charge of that doing, great job because it’s absolutely horrendous.” “I think it is well overdue,” says Amy Hamilton, who says she was talking about Simms Corner with her soon-to-be driving daughter the other day. “I always kind of felt like Simms Corner was where Saint John just met in the middle, and we had to deal with it and fend for yourself, so great news.” Saint John Mayor Donna Reardon says the overall announcement Wednesday was a validation that the Port of Saint John is becoming one of Canada’s main gateways to the world. Once all the work is completed, including improvements like dredging the harbour, new and improved port warehouses and rail upgrades, the port is projected to quadruple its container capacity. It will also expand the amount of other goods that leave the harbour, including Saskatchewan potash and other breakbulk exports. When speaking on Simms Corner, Reardon says despite the confusion it may cause for those visiting the Port City, the intersection has always worked for Saint John. “There’s never an accident over there so it works, but once you start to inject the trains into that intersection, then you start to have issues,” highlights the mayor. “You end up with a 20 minute wait every time the trains go through there, about three times a day. They’re not on any sort of a schedule, so it’s hit and miss.” From people trying to get to work on time, cross over to the other side of the city for an appointment or even a medical emergency, Reardon says the intersection can be a headache and problem for residents. With J.D. Irving, Limited currently undergoing a $1.5 billion upgrade to its west side mill, as well as a quickly growing port, train traffic is only expected to continue increasing in the years ahead. “It’s certainly no question that a project like that is going to be in disruption,” New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt told reporters Wednesday. “You can’t pull up the rail and the road and separate the two without there being inconveniences, but we understand that the people of Saint John know this is going to give them the future that they want.” CTV News Atlantic reached out to the province’s department of transportation and infrastructure for additional details about the intersection’s redevelopment, including timelines and its design, and is awaiting a response. The premier told reporters on Wednesday she is hopeful to have the intersection completed by 2030 but acknowledged given the amount of work that will be required it may push beyond that. Reardon says she hasn’t seen much in terms of what the intersection will look like, but says trains and vehicles will be on different grades with cars being a level above the train traffic. She did say there was a time the city set aside $3 million for a roundabout that was being bantered at one point for the intersection, which will remain set aside for an undecided quality of life project for west side residents. The mayor also acknowledges the teamwork displayed between different levels of government and private businesses to make the project a reality. “Saint John has all the pieces of the puzzles for success, and we really just had to put the pieces together.” The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure said it will offer a public meeting on the Simms Corner project in late November or early December. For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
