Government of New Brunswick
Saint John
French Village, Kings Co.
Ice jam
Heavy rain
$4,000.00

Affected Areas


Hammond River: Mild weather and heavy rains on March 2 increased the flow and water level in the Hammond River causing the ice to run and jam. The ice jam and flood damaged the construction site of a twin-span bridge over the Hammond River at French Village. Formwork, for a pier of the new bridge, was crushed by the ice. Later, parts of it were retrieved from the ice-choked river. Parts of a temporary bridge, located alongside the site of the new bridge, were battered or swept away by the ice floes. A bulldozer, excavator and construction trailers were among the equipment flooded. Area residents were concerned that the construction work would endanger a covered bridge, located 150 metres upstream of the construction site. A temporary, earthen embankment had narrowed the channel downstream of the covered bridge, and likely helped to cause the ice jam. The embankment was removed after construction was completed. General: Elsewhere in New Brunswick, the rain and mild weather increased water levels and caused some breakup of river ice cover. Minor flooding of low-lying farmland occurred along the Kennebecasis and Petitcodiac rivers.
At Saint John, 26 mm of rain fell on March 2, and another 30 to 50 mm of rain and sleet were forecast for March 4 to 5th.
Flood damages to one of the construction trailers at the site was estimated at $4 000. There was no estimates of damage to the bridge construction project, but about two weeks of work was loss. The concrete reinforcing rods for the new pier were retrieved from the river.