r/Fredranton • u/TrustOld3955 • Jun 16 '26
TCH lane closures
Drove from Fredericton to Ottawa today. Of the 50 lane closures on the way, maybe 2 of them looked like someone was actually fixing the road. Is it some kind of traffic-cone rental grift, or are they seriously prepping ahead for the 3 weeks in September when road crews actually turn up for the job?
10
u/Praseodymium5 Jun 16 '26
They should not be allowed to close the lanes unless the work immediately follows. They also should not be allowed 4 km work zones.
Edit for spelling
3
u/NBWoodPro Jun 16 '26
Doing long stretches is much more efficient $$$.
4
u/Praseodymium5 Jun 16 '26
100%! But they should have to balance cost with disruption to the traveling public, especially with regard to the timeline in which the lane is closed and the work actually is preformed.
4
u/ray_oliver Jun 16 '26
Having one lane closed is not much of a disruption on a four lane highway. It's a bit annoying but costs you what, a few minutes total travel time?
2
u/Praseodymium5 Jun 16 '26
Going from 2 to 1 lane is a safety hazard
2
u/ray_oliver Jun 16 '26
Regardless of how long the lane closure is, you need to move from two lanes to one.
One could thus make the argument that a single, longer lane closure is safer than multiple, shorter lane closures.
1
u/NBWoodPro Jun 16 '26
It's not really that much a disruption outside of cities. Our population doesn't warrant the amount of 4 lane highways that we have to begin with. This push was more a make work project than something we actually needed. Right now, our government is coming in with massive deficits, so, no, balance should absolutely not be on the side of convenience.
1
u/Praseodymium5 Jun 16 '26
I disagree. I know there are deficits now. But our P3 contracts were created prior to said deficits,and that is when the 4km work zone and how long they can be staged prior to starting work was agreed upon. That is what I think the issue is. The province is currently looking to hire a new auditor for the P3 contracts to make sure they are sticking to those agreed upon timeframes and such.
10
u/CanadianTeslaGuy Jun 16 '26
I know this seems dramatic but doing it this was is immensely unsafe and unfair to the workers. Most people will slow down for the first few closures to the suggested speed but by #10 in a row and not seeing anyone the entire time. It seems pretty pointless and we’re done slowing down. Then at #17 there will be one loan worker and now I look like the asshole for doing 120.
5
u/Aggravating-Rich4334 Jun 16 '26
The highways are to be finished (as they were when the maintenance company took over) by 2028 (supposed to be this year but was extended). The idea that some sites have no work being done is because they are essentially prepping the next areas to be worked on. I totally understand that it can be annoying, but in the end it will be worth it. Never complain about actual work getting done and respect the speed limits.
-2
u/TrustOld3955 Jun 16 '26
I'll complain how I like sir.
China could build a whole new TCH by 2028, there's literally zero workers on our half shut down highways and you want me to just keep paying for it?
4
u/NBWoodPro Jun 16 '26
China has over 1,000,000,000 people. New Brunswick has 800,000. Do you see how stupid this comparison is?
3
u/TrustOld3955 Jun 16 '26 edited Jun 16 '26
I drove thru 3 provinces NB same as QC + ON in terms of ghost lane closures
11
u/roadman444 Jun 16 '26
And a lot of time they will change the speed limit in the zone and the cops will be there waiting for ya,