After years of extensive work it’s not clear if, or when, the final phase of construction to rehabilitate Water Street in St. John’s might be completed, after the city’s initial application for funding was rejected.

The city needs to have the joint funding in place in time to plan for an April start up date to ensure that the work is completed in time so as not to impede traffic during the busy summer months.

The work has been completed in phases, with the fifth and final phase involving the stretch of road between Job’s Cove and Waldegrave Street. The work includes construction at the two intersections as well as the installation of a cured-in-place pipe lining of the old existing brick sewer.

The city applied for the remaining funder under the cost-shared “Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program” but the application submitted in the fall of 2020 was not approved.

The city applied again late last year, but the request is still under review.

The city says it is not known when the application will be processed and with April fast approaching and a limited window in which to plan for the upcoming season, the city decided to put the work on hold for this year.