As we move into the latter part of 2025, the major rehabilitation work on the Saint John Harbour Bridge is starting to wind down — a positive signal for commuters, local businesses and residents alike. Here’s a rundown of where things stand, and what to expect.

✅ What’s been accomplished

• The multi-phase rehabilitation, managed by the New Brunswick Department of Transportation & Infrastructure (DTI) and the City of Saint John, has seen intermittent traffic restrictions and closures — for example, reducing to one lane each way beginning March 31 2025 to allow continuation of key work on the bridge deck and ramps.

• Overnight brief closures (around 20 minutes each) have been used to raise the bridge deck via jacks, scheduled during lower-traffic periods. 

• Temporary closures of parts of the pedestrian route “Harbour Passage” underneath the bridge have also been necessary for safety and access control during underside work.

🎯 What’s coming through late 2025

• The goal is to re-open all four through-lanes of the bridge by late October. After that, only the ramps (not the main lanes) will remain closed for final finishes, expected till late November. 

• After this season, lane closures are not anticipated for the through lanes — meaning less disruption for daily drivers heading to and from the west side of Saint John. 

• The remaining phases of the project are mostly ramp-related (for example the Chesley Drive on/off ramps) and underside or maintenance work — less visible and less impactful on main traffic flows.

🔍 Why this matters

• The Harbour Bridge is one of the key connections for West Side, Uptown and Route 1 traffic. Keeping the lanes moving smoothly is critical for commerce, commuting and emergency services.

• Reducing major lane closures means fewer traffic jams, less time lost for residents, and less frustration for delivery and freight services.

• From a business-perspective, less disruption means better predictability for customers and suppliers.

• For community life, the return of more normal traffic patterns will improve quality of life, reduce detours and support city vitality.

📌 Tips for motorists & residents

• Plan ahead for ramp closures: Even though the main lanes will be back to full width, watch for remaining ramp work and associated delays.

• Stay updated on notifications: Check DTI’s 511 system, the City’s news and social channels for any unexpected closures or night-work.

• Allow extra time during evening/overnight works: Some brief closures might still happen for safety.

• For alternative routes: The Reversing Falls Bridge remains a good option when signage indicates detours. 

📝 Final thoughts

While the Harbour Bridge rehabilitation project isn’t entirely done yet, the major visible disruptions are wrapping up for 2025. If all goes to plan, drivers should enjoy smoother, more predictable travel through the rest of the year — and for the remainder of the work, the inconvenience should be much less.

It’s a good time for Saint John to look forward to a more stable bridge environment — and the many small but meaningful improvements it brings to daily life.

Taxpayers in the City of Saint John could be looking forward to a bit of a break on their property taxes next for 2026.

The city’s finance committee voted Oct. 29 to recommend to council a budget that includes a 1.5-cent reduction on property taxes. The cut would bring the rate down to $1.535 per $100 of assessed value.

Property assessments would seea a slight decrease, with the assessed value falling by 1.5 cents per $100 of value. While modest, this change reflects subtle shifts in market conditions and valuation adjustments.

For property owners, the impact will likely be minimal — for example, a property assessed at $250,000 would see its taxable assessed value reduced by approximately $37.50.

This drop may signal a cooling trend in certain segments of the market or adjustments in assessment methodologies. Stakeholders are encouraged to review their property assessments and stay informed about local valuation trends.