If you live or commute through Saint John’s Lower West Side, prepare for some significant traffic and parking changes over the next few weeks. Between June 1 and June 19, oversized and overweight loads will move from the Port’s Lower West terminal to the IPP pulp mill area.

According to a recent notice from the City of Saint John, crews will transport approximately 101 loads during this timeframe. Most of these shipments will travel along Highway 1. However, subject to approvals, about 30 loads will take a route directly through the Lower West Side.

What to Expect on the Roads

The provincial government oversees the approvals for these movements through the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure. The city is working alongside the province, the Port, the transport company, and the Saint John Police Force to manage the impact on your daily routine.

For loads traveling through the Lower West Side, the schedule is specific. Movements happen Monday through Friday. Expect to see them twice daily. The first window is between 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. The second window runs from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Police escorts will accompany these massive shipments.

Parking Restrictions and Towing

To ensure these vehicles navigate the streets safely, the city has implemented temporary parking restrictions. You cannot park on the south side of Ludlow Street from Prince Street to King Street West during the scheduled movement times. Similarly, the east side of King Street West from Ludlow Street to 246 King Street West is completely off limits for parking during these windows.

If you leave your vehicle in these restricted zones during the move times, authorities will tow it.

City Response and Safety Measures

The city has asked for strict traffic control measures and assessments of municipal infrastructure to prevent damage.

Lisa Kennedy is the Director of External Relations for the City of Saint John. She acknowledges the frustration these industrial movements cause in residential areas.

“Our focus is on public safety, minimizing disruption to residents and road users, and ensuring affected residents and businesses receive as much advance notice as possible,” Kennedy says. “We recognize the concerns residents in the Lower West Side have raised about truck traffic and industrial impacts, and we are working to ensure these movements are communicated clearly and managed as safely as possible.”

Keep in mind that separate provincial highway construction is also happening on the west side of the Harbour Bridge. This overlap will likely create extra traffic delays in the area, so plan your commute accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions

When are the oversized load movements taking place?

The movements occur between June 1 and June 19, primarily Monday through Friday. Daily operations run from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Where are the loads coming from and going?

The shipments travel from the Port’s Lower West terminal to the IPP pulp mill area.

Where is parking restricted?

You cannot park on the south side of Ludlow Street between Prince Street and King Street West. Parking is also banned on the east side of King Street West from Ludlow Street to 246 King Street West during the scheduled movement times.

Who approves these heavy load routes?

The Province of New Brunswick’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure regulates and approves these types of movements, not the City of Saint John.