$7.8 million in improvements announced for 18 New Brunswick harbours

Eighteen harbours across New Brunswick are receiving $7.8 million for new and ongoing projects, which includes dredging, wharf and breakwater repairs, environmental remediation, and planning work.

The projects are being undertaken through Fisheries and Oceans Canada's Small Craft Harbours Program, in close collaboration with the harbour authorities that manage and operate the facilities for local users.

Details of projects are as follows:

•Beaver Harbour work this year includes planning and engineering for wharf deck reconstruction and the electrical upgrades. The project is scheduled for completion next year. Other planning and engineering will complete the preparatory work for a major capital harbour development project that would include breakwater construction, dredging, floating wharves and reconstruction of the main wharf.

•Blacks Harbour will be the site of advance work involving geotechnical studies, sampling, environmental work and engineering design for a future major capital project which will improve capacity and operational efficiency in the harbour.

•Boynes Cove will see completion of a major harbour development project that includes basin dredging, breakwater construction and reconstruction and extension of the existing wharf.

•Cap de St. Louis will see work environmental in nature that involves decontamination of dredge material removed from the harbour basin last year.

•Chance Harbour will benefit from a two-year project that will reconfigure the breakwater to help address congestion and capacity issues in the harbour. The project involves realignment of the end of the rubblemound breakwater and is expected to be completed next year.

•Head Harbour’s wharf repair project to replace the wales, fender piles and wheel guards will be completed this year.

•Ingalls Head will see a project to repair a section of the steel sheet pile wharf completed this year. Work involves encasing the wharf in concrete and is expected to be finished in late summer. Designs, plans and specifications are nearing completion for a major capital project and tenders for the containment cell and service area construction are expected later this year.

•Lameque work this year involves advance planning for a future wharf reconstruction project and includes structural assessment and the preparation of plans and specifications.

•Le Goulet will see advance planning this season in preparation for a future harbour improvement project.

•Lords Cove will see advance planning and design work continue for a future major capital project to improve capacity, safety and services in the harbour.

•McEacherns Point, where the marginal wharf is in very poor condition, will be replaced with a new concrete deck and beam system. It is anticipated that work will be tendered in late summer and when the project is completed, fish harvesters and buyers will have much safer operating conditions.

•Miller Brook’s wharf reconstruction project, started last year, will be completed this summer.

•Miscou’s end of the main wharf is in a state of disrepair. Work will start on the structural assessment, engineering and preparation of plans and specifications for a future repair project.

•North Head - Advance planning for a future major capital harbour development project is planned. This year's work involves preliminary engineering, conceptual drawings and estimates, geotechnical studies and soundings for dredging and breakwater extensions.

•Pigeon Hill’s west wharf will undergo major repairs expected to be completed by next spring. Advance planning will continue for a future harbour improvement project.

•Richibucto’s work this year includes dredging and site preparation along with the construction and installation of floating wharves, gangways and pedestrian access.

•Seal Cove - Construction of a new rubblemound breakwater is well under way and expected to be completed early next year. The breakwater will create an additional harbour basin and contribute to increased capacity and safety.

•Val Comeau will be the site of work on the launching ramp. The existing ramp has deteriorated and will be replaced by a concrete ramp. The project is expected to be completed by the end of the year.