MONCTON – The New Brunswick government issued a warning this week after receiving several reports of gates on moose fencing left open along the province’s highways.
The most recent incidents happened along the new Route 8 Marysville Bypass, near Fredericton, but it’s not the first time the department of transportation and infrastructure has received these types of calls.
“I think it’s a safety issue,” said Susan Pace outside the Big Stop gas station near Salisbury, N.B. “I think we shouldn’t have to be worrying about that. There’s enough to worry about on the highway.”
Dave Kelly was visiting the area from Newfoundland, which is looking at installing moose fence on its highways.
In the alert, the province said the integrity of moose fencing is critical to highway safety, and anyone who opens the gates to access the forests must close them.
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The transportation department installs moose fencing along highways in areas where more than 15 collisions with moose have occurred in the last five years.
Marc Savoie, president of the Dieppe ATV Club, said people leaving the gates open is disturbing.
“The federation and local clubs are working really hard to have access to trails for our members and some people are ruining it,” he said.
He said it’s important to use common sense and be respectful of other people and their property.
“The government has invested money for safety for car drivers, and they’re actually letting us use them, and I hear this? It’s crazy,” he said.
New Brunswick motorists are at high-risk of of a collision with a moose. The government says there are about 300 vehicle-moose collisions every year.
Over the weekend, a 22-year-old woman was killed on Route 10 in Richibucto Road after she swerved to avoid a moose and went into the ditch.
In September, three people were killed in Saint-Louis-de-Kent when a minivan collided with a moose and caused a three-vehicle accident.
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