Route 111 just had substantial & costly work done this summer ($millions?), yet there is now talk of possible upgrades being required to allow for these bigger (B-Train double dump style ) trucks HRH wishes to use to transport their gypsum . The Minister of Natural Resouces says no royalties will be charged for such a common mineral as gypsum .With no compensation being sought,who will pay for the road upgrades & the upkeep over the next decade of wear & tear from truck traffic? Irving, HRH, or local NB. tax payers?
When you say somewhere between 30&40 truck per day traveling routes 111 & 865, carrying gypsum ,does that mean in total or 30-40 coming in empty & 30-40 going out full for a total of 70-80 trucks in a 12 hour period? Either way , I would like to know if this extra truck traffic has been considered from a tourism point of views? Billions $$$ have already been spent on Fundy Trail Parkway & more to complete it . Route 111 is the St. Martin's highway, how can blasting & high transport truck traffic & a gypsum guarry be considered part of a relaxing rural drive?
Tourism & the employment & monies generated from it, are much more important to this riding than a guarry that pays no royalties & instead cost taxpayer money we don't have to waste.
At this time, it is unknown if the trucking route will need to be upgraded. An application has been made to the Department of Transportation to uprate the route from the proposed gypsum site to the wallboard plant in Saint John, NB. This is a common process throughout the province and requires engineers from the Department of Transportation to evaluate the route in its entirety to determine if heavy traffic can be permitted. The Department of Transportation will remain responsible for the maintenance of all public roads within the province.
When we say 30-40 trucks/day carrying gypsum, we mean return loads (from the wallboard plant to Upham and then back). This is based on 12 hours/day, 5 days per week.
Tourism is represented on the TRC and it is our understanding that its effects will be evaluated through that process.