In an apparent change of heart, Saint John City Council says it wants to act on the erosion that threatens Sand Cove Road, but homeowners are questioning whether it’s too late.

Saint John homeowners along the Bay of Fundy have been calling on the city for years to do something about the erosion they say threatens their property and public safety.

Among them is Mort McAllister, who has lived in the McLaren’s Beach area for most of his 83 years. He says his home is one of many that are threatened by erosion and slope failure.

“There’s a couple of houses here that are going to be gone and, hopefully, no one will be in them when they go,” says McAllister.

Homeowners say building a breakwater on a section of the Fundy shoreline would help stop erosion, but last week city officials said nothing could be done until next year, at the earliest.

“Nobody is doing anything to help the homeowners,” says McAllister. “The city is, and rightfully so, concerned about the road.”

Sand Cove Road is already down to one lane due to erosion and residents say a heavy rainstorm and further slope failure could close it altogether. That would close access to a cemetery, some nearby homes and to the popular Irving Nature Park.

Now the city says erosion along Sand Cove Road is an urgent matter, and they want to take action this year.

“The ground moved almost 29 inches in less than six months at one time and we have a spring thaw coming up here,” says Coun. Bill Farren. “Is it going to have that same type of movement this year? You know, the road could disappear first big thaw we have.”

A spokesperson for JD Irving Ltd. says the company hopes a solution will be found so residents and visitors can continue to use the park.

But McAllister says, even if the city starts building a breakwater this year, the fix may be too late.

“The next frost that comes out of that hillside, they’re going to lose the road this spring, I would think,” he says.

Residents say they will be watching the shoreline closely this spring to see how much more land is lost to the Bay of Fundy.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Mike Cameron