Flood Waters on New Brunswick’s St. John River Hit Highest Level in Decades

By THE CANADIAN PRESS

FREDERICTON – Rising flood waters are a major concern in New Brunswick, prompting road and building closures and forcing people to leave their homes.

Water levels on the St. John River have hit the highest level in decades in Fredericton, forcing the closure of the provincial legislature, city hall and schools. At least 20 roads in the Fredericton area are closed Thursday with traffic affected on another 10. As well, Route 105 – the old Trans-Canada Highway – from Fredericton southeast to Jemseg is completely closed to traffic.

In the northwestern region, the rising waters have closed the international bridge between Saint-Leonard, N.B., and Van Buren, Maine.

There are also reports of flooding along Route 105 in the western New Brunswick communities of Perth-Andover, Florenceville, Hartland and elsewhere.

The river is expected to crest Thursday in Fredericton at 8.6 metres, which is more than two metres above flood stage.

Levels are expected to continue rising in communities downstream of the capital city through Friday.

The Emergency Measures Organization says up to 1,300 homes in the province are threatened and urges everyone in flood-prone areas to evacuate.

Meanwhile, across the border in Maine, more than 100 homes and businesses were evacuated Wednesday in the Fort Kent area as the river spilled into the community.