Route 236 to Reopen on Friday

A washed-out section of Route 236 in Colchester County is set to reopen by Friday, one week ahead of schedule, Transportation and Public Works Minister Clifford Huskilson said today.

"Private contractors and department crews have pulled together to get this job done ahead of schedule," said Mr. Huskilson. "There's still some concrete to pour and gravel to fill but traffic should be rolling by Friday. If it hadn't been for the weekend snow, it might have been sooner."

Twin box culverts, measuring 1.8 metre by 2.4 metre (six by eight feet), and twin overflow culverts that measure 1.5 metre (five feet) in diameter were set in place last week. The new configuration replaces a 3.7-metre (12-foot) diameter multi-plate and effectively increases the flow-through capacity.

"I wanted this job done as quickly as possible and it's good to see the team that worked on this project has come through," said Mr. Huskilson. "This is an important link for local business and residents in and out of Truro."

Route 236 washed out at Doggett's Brook on March 15. Repairs were estimated to take four weeks. A detour through Truro Heights Road and Lower Truro Road added about five kilometres to the journey.

Mr. Huskilson acknowledged the tremendous co-operation from L.E. Shaw Ltd., who supplied the box culverts, V.J. Rice Concrete Ltd., who built the round pipe, and Ian Sinclair Contracting Services Ltd. who installed the culverts. The Department of Transportation and Public Works also has 15 department vehicles and 17 staff working to reopen the road.

The emergency repair work is valued at about $160,000. Final paving will occur in June.