The governments of Canada and New Brunswick, along with the City of Moncton announced a joint investment of more than $36.3 million to upgrade Moncton’s municipal infrastructure and improve its climate resiliency.
The project includes the installation of a storm sewer and dedicated sanitary sewer on Downing Street and Assomption Boulevard, as well as extending the municipal services to serve Moncton’s growing downtown core. Streets will be elevated to offset the expected rise in sea levels, and existing aerial lines will be relocated underground to increase resilience to extreme weather conditions.
“These upgrades to water management and roads in downtown Moncton improves the city’s capacity to manage water, stormwater, and wastewater, as well as protect Moncton and its residents against climate change and extreme weather events. We will continue to work with our partners to invest in these types of projects, which are good for people and the environment,” said Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).
These upgrades will increase the City of Moncton’s capacity to manage wastewater and stormwater, increase access to potable water, and improve traffic flow and pedestrian access throughout this area of downtown. They will also enhance the City of Moncton’s capacity to adapt to climate change and increasingly frequent extreme weather events.
“This funding is welcome news. It will support significant improvements that will encourage the overall densification and revitalization of our downtown and help us move forward with the downtown vision and infrastructure renewal detailed in the City’s Downtown Core Community Improvement Plan. Thank you to both levels of government for your continued support as we build an economically prosperous, vibrant and sustainable city core,” said Moncton Mayor Dawn Arnold.
“We are investing in infrastructure projects that will have long-term economic and social benefits for residents of New Brunswick. This is an exciting development that will lead to private sector investment to support the growth of the Greater Moncton Region. Investing in critical infrastructure in our communities also mitigates the risk of disastrous flooding,” said Daniel Allain, Minister of Local Government and Local Governance Reform.
Featured image: (Government of Canada)