'Accidents are going to happen': Construction on Fredericton road affecting residents

Major construction at a busy Fredericton intersection is causing hour-long delays for commuters during peak traffic times.

Essential sewer and water lines are being installed in the city's Pepper Creek area, reducing traffic to one lane on Greenwood Drivewhen construction starts at7 a.m.

"In all directions as far as you can see along the road, there's just cars," said Cathy Kay, who drives in every dayto open her business."You can see people getting frustrated and rushing where maybe they shouldn't accidents are going to happen. It's scary, really."

• Along the scenic route: Woodstock Road to close next week
• Construction season kickoff: 22 road construction projects to hit Fredericton streets

The delays have been affecting local business too, according to Greg Hallihan, who owns Hooley's Hometown Pub on Greenwood Drive.

"I'm down 50 per centin sales, and right now I'm in the process of laying people off, cutting my menu down, and just trying to survive my first year," Hallihansaid.

LaureenLemoine-Foster, another local driver, said she is worried it will impact her ability to get her children to school on time in September.

"Traffic is horrendous now in the morning, and on the way home from work it's going to be a nightmare," she said."For three years now the children have been getting to school late, and this year I believe it will be even worse."

School buses make two runs in the morning to pick up elementary students first, then back for middle and high school students.

The school district saidit may addextra buses.

Missing from the tender

City of Fredericton engineer Greg McCaan said the city is looking at starting constructionlater in the morning in September.

They are holding off on doing so immediately because the contractor has limited time to get the job done, he said.

Stopping work at peak traffic times wasn't a condition of the contract tender.

"It does happen, but it didn't happen this time," he said of putting the condition on the tender. "It could just be a miss."