Premier Susan Holt said the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DTI) prioritizes safety when considering evening or overnight road and bridge work.

She explained that reduced visibility, increased accident risk, and the cost are a few key factors in those decisions.

Holt spoke with Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Chuck Chiasson, who confirmed that reduced visibility at night raises accident risks for motorists and on-site crews.

“DTI was pretty clear with me that their number one goal is safety,” Holt said.

“That’s part of why the department exists—to ensure we have the kind of infrastructure that allows New Brunswickers to move safely around the province.”

The premier told New Brunswickers during her second live Q&A on Tuesday that although some road and bridge projects do run overnight, those shifts are rare exceptions.

DTI explained to Holt that designing, installing and powering adequate lighting can be logistically complex and even disrupt traffic flow or emergency procedures.

She also added that contract crews already log 12 to 15-hour days from sunrise to sunset, and extending shifts into the night adds expense, staffing challenges and fatigue concerns.

Beyond roadwork, Holt also answered questions on topics such as nurse retention bonuses, expedited licensing and the rollout of the family health teams to ease ER wait times.

She re-highlighted information on the pilot project that’s coming this fall for 36 anglophone schools that will be adding more PD days throughout the school calendar year.

Other topics Holt commented on included NB Power’s short-term rate relief while an independent panel reviews long-term rate structures, as well as the federal-provincial plan for $10-a-day child care by March 2026.

You can watch the replay of Holt’s second live Q&A for full details on everything that was talked about.