MIRAMICHI (GNB) – The provincial government and industry partners have launched the annual safety awareness campaign reminding motorists to heed posted speed limits and exercise caution when driving in and around construction zones.
The campaign includes the New Brunswick Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association, WorksafeNB and the New Brunswick Construction Safety Association.
“The men and women working on our highways are brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, sons and daughters,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Bill Fraser. “I urge all motorists to drive with caution when entering a construction zone, to ensure your own safety and that of the people working there.”
Each year, hundreds of people work at summer construction projects on provincial roads. For safety reasons, speed limits are lowered in constructions zones. Drivers in New Brunswick are reminded that if they get caught speeding in highway construction zones they face double the minimum fine.
“It is up to all of us to make sure our construction zones are as safe as possible,” said Tom McGinn, executive director of the New Brunswick Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association. “We hope that New Brunswickers will pay attention to construction signage and reduce their speed accordingly.”
This year’s provincial capital budget includes nearly $400 million for highways and bridges. Strategic investments in infrastructure are a key component of the New Brunswick Economic Growth Plan, the government’s framework for moving the economy forward. Municipalities and highway operators are also conducting summer construction projects.
Fraser encouraged training and trucking companies, department employees and all those involved in traffic control on provincial roads to review the Work Area Traffic Control Manual and to be sure they were aware of its guidelines.
”Construction workers and traffic control personnel are working hard to keep our highways safe for drivers,” said Fraser. “As drivers, let’s all do our part to make it safe for them.”
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