Your daily commute could be riskier than you think. A new report from New Brunswick’s Auditor General, Paul Martin, reveals that nearly half of the province’s department-operated highways are in poor or very poor condition. The audit also highlights a grim statistic: New Brunswick has the highest per capita highway fatality rate among all Canadian provinces.

The report, released yesterday, points to significant gaps in the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure’s systems for ensuring the safe movement of people and goods across the province.

Key Problems Identified

Auditor General Paul Martin found that the department lacks a formal highway safety strategy and fails to consistently address safety concerns in a timely manner. This means known issues on the roads you travel may not be getting fixed when they should.

“Of concern, is a noted lack of oversight of public-private partnership highways, including inconsistent monitoring of contract compliance,” Martin said in the report. This raises questions about the maintenance and safety of major routes managed by private contractors.

The audit also uncovered other systemic issues, including:

• A lack of target repair times for maintenance on highways managed directly by the department.
• Inadequate documented reasons for changing which asphalt and chip seal projects get prioritized in the capital plan.

What Happens Next?

In response to these findings, the Auditor General made 24 recommendations to the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure. The department has accepted all of them, signaling a commitment to address the identified shortcomings.

For those wanting to dive deeper into the specifics, the full report is available on the Office of the Auditor General’s website.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the main finding of the report?

The report found that nearly half of New Brunswick’s highways are in poor or very poor condition and that the province has the highest per capita highway fatality rate in Canada.

Who conducted this audit?

New Brunswick’s Auditor General, Paul Martin, and his office conducted the audit on highway safety.

Did the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure respond?

Yes. The department accepted all 24 recommendations made by the Auditor General to improve its systems and practices.

Where can I read the full report?

You can access the complete report on the official website of the Office of the Auditor General of New Brunswick.