‘Seven is a really scary highway’: N.B. residents hope for more wildlife fencing

A recent fatal New Brunswick highway crash happened near a road without wildlife fencing.

RCMP officers in Grand Bay-Westfield, N.B., are continuing to investigate a fatal crash on Highway 7 Monday night that is believed to have been caused by a moose.

The crash, which left one person dead and another seriously injured, was reported around 8:28 p.m. Police believe a southbound vehicle swerved into the opposite lane to avoid a moose, resulting in striking the northbound vehicle head on.

The driver of the northbound vehicle, a 31-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene.

In an update Wednesday, Sgt. Ben Comley told CTV News the driver of the southbound vehicle remains in hospital.

“What we can say right now is they still have serious injuries and they’re still receiving care,” Sgt. Comley says after being asked the condition of the southbound driver.

The section of highway where the accident occurred did not have wildlife fencing to help keep animals like moose off the roadway.

When asked if he would like to see more fencing along the road in the community, Sgt. Comley wouldn’t comment on it specifically, but says New Brunswick RCMP are always willing to work with its partners to improve public safety.

The fatal accident is the second major incident involving a moose in that last five months. In December a Saint John couple hit a moose at the other end of Highway 7.

“It makes me very hesitant about driving the highways, especially around dusk,” says resident Elizabeth Donnelly. “I think the fencing is very important.”

Pam Hoben agrees with that sentiment.

“Seven is a really scary highway, especially at night for anyone traveling,” she says.

Hoben would also like to see more wildlife fencing – not just on Highway 7, but around the entire province.

She recently did a road trip around the province, and says signs warning of moose are everywhere.

“Every probably 10 or 15 minutes you would see a sign,” says Hoben. “But as far as moose fencing, it was very intermittent throughout the province.”

Tanya Bishop says more fencing is a “fantastic idea,” but points out maintaining the fence can be a problem.

“The fences are falling down, the trees are on it, everything’s down,” Bishop points out. “Nobody wants to own it, nobody wants to maintain it, which is just causing more of an issue with everything.”

In a statement to CTV Atlantic, New Brunswick Department of Transportation and Infrastructure communications officer Jacob MacDonald says approximately 332 kilometres of highway around the province does have wildlife fencing erected.

“The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DTI) monitors provincial highways for areas requiring wildlife mitigation.” Says MacDonald. “And recommends areas for potential mitigation based on a combination of collision rates and the highway conditions.”

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