Government to collect tenders for more moose fencing

New wildlife fencing along Route 7 in southern New Brunswick will mean that motorists can relax a bit while driving, says the mother of a woman who collided with a moose.

Cathy McCollum collected more than 10,000 names on a petition urging the New Brunswick government to install fences to protect highway travellers from migrating moose after her daughter's vehicle collided with one of the animals in 2006.

Transportation Department crews have been erecting fencing along the sides of the highway between Fredericton and Saint John.

The fencing includesthe spot where McCollum's daughter, Carrie, and two soldiers from CFB Gagetown wereinjured when their vehicle struck a moose that wandered onto the pavement near Petersville.

"I think it has given [motorists] some comfort that they won't be so nervous driving this highway at nighttime," she said. "You still have to be alert, but I think it will help them relax a little bit more," McCollum said.

More than 300 vehicle collisions with moose are reported in New Brunswick every year.

The government announced on Tuesday it will be issuing a call for tenders for an additional 47 linear kilometres of wildlife fencing on Highway 7 in April.

Work is also underway on Routes 8 and 11 in northern New Brunswick.

Woman credited for her fencing push

"I'd like to thank Cathy McCollum this clearly, clearly wouldn't have happened without the persistence of Cathy," said Supply and Services Minister Jack Keir. "That's why this is happening."

McCollum hung a plaque on the new fencing along Highway 7 between Saint John and Fredericton at the spot where her daughter's accident took place.

"It's going to reduce a lot of accidents," she said.

Her daughter survived the accident but the need for fencing along the highway is still a very emotional issue for the family, McCollum said.

"I appreciate everything my mother has done," Carrie McCollum told reporters Tuesday. "It's a comfort to know that the fence is up. It isn't a 100 per cent guarantee but it will provide a little bit of protection."

There were 92 moose-vehicle collisions between Saint John and Fredericton between 2002 and 2006.

When the wildlife fencing project on Route 7 is completed, it will stretch from Broad Road to the Queens Brook area and will be valued at more than $7 million.

"When we finish our fencing work at this wildlife collision hotspot this year, Route 7 will be safer for everyone who travels it," said Transportation Minister Denis Landry.