Auditor General reports on highway safety in New Brunswick

Auditor General reports on highway safety in New Brunswick

FREDERICTON (GNB)- Auditor General Paul Martin released a report today on highway safety in New Brunswick, noting improvements required in the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure’s systems and practices for ensuring the safe movement of people and goods.

The audit found that nearly half of department-operated highways are in poor or very poor condition, and that New Brunswick is reported to have the highest per capita highway fatality rate amongst Canadian provinces.

Martin’s audit found that the department lacks a formalized highway safety strategy and does not consistently address safety concerns in a timely manner. “Of concern, is a noted lack of oversight of public-private partnership (P3) highways, including inconsistent monitoring of contract compliance,” said Martin.

The department lacks target repair times for maintenance on highways it manages, and Martin noted “ There is inadequate documented rationale for changes to asphalt and chipseal projects selected for the departments capital plan”.

The Auditor General made 24 recommendations to the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, all of which were accepted by the department.