A provincial pilot program testing the effectiveness of wildlife fencing and warning systems in reducing the number of moose-vehicle collisions on provincial highways will place the fencing along the Trans-Canada Highway (TCH) in western Newfoundland.
A total of 15 kilometres of fencing is expected to go up. According to a provincial government tender, it will be installed on the TCH in the area adjacent to Gallants and Black Duck Siding.
At the same time, a wildlife detection and warning system will be installed on the TCH east of the Salmonier Line interchange.
The positioning of both the fencing and warning system were outlined in tenders issued July 12.
"This area, on the TCH west of Gallant's Road (Route 402) was picked for the fencing pilot project because it was an area identified from our existing data as having a high incidence of moose-vehicle collisions," a spokesman for the Department of Transportation said on July 26, when asked why the fencing was being placed in the location outlined in the tender.
He also said a second detection and warning system will be set up on the TCH in Central Newfoundland, but could not pinpoint exactly where as of press time.
Not consulted
Lucy Stoyles, co-chairwoman of the collision-conscious Save Our People Action Committee (SOPAC), said no one from the provincial government had consulted anyone from SOPAC prior to the tender for the fencing being issued.
"They have done zero with us. Absolutely nothing," she said.
Ms. Stoyles was asked where she had been expecting the test fencing to be placed.
"I was expecting between Grand Falls-Windsor and Gander. That's where most of the accidents have happened," she said.
Her information on accident numbers and locations is from a patchwork of various sources. There are no definitive statistics readily available right now on moose-vehicle accidents. SOPAC has claimed there are hundreds of such accidents provincially each year.
"This area, on the TCH west of Gallant's Road (Route 402) was picked for the fencing pilot project because it was an area identified from our existing data as having a high incidence of moose-vehicle collisions." - Department of Transportation spokesperson
Ms. Stoyles said, the "hot spots" on the island are well-known. In addition to the Grand Falls-Windsor area, she included the area on the eastern side of Butter Pot Provincial Park and the area around the turnoff for the St. John's Rod and Gun Club in her list of such areas.
"Wherever they're going to put it, we're certainly happy they're going to do something with it," she said. "We certainly feel they need to look at fencing."
A total $5 million has been allocated for the fencing and warning systems, along with more brush clearing along the roadsides, driver education and a GPS system used to pinpoint and track where moose-vehicle accidents happen.
The tender on the detection and warning system closes July 29 and the tender on the fencing will close Aug. 9.
Transportation Minister Tom Hedderson has said the pilot projects will need to be in place for two years or so before the government can make any decisions on a larger strategy. If that is the case, any large-scale action on moose-vehicle accidents is years away.
The provincial government already knows more than 70 per cent of moose-vehicle collisions occur between May and October. Cost estimates for vehicle damage alone are more than $1 million annually. There are an estimated 125,000 moose on the island.
When this year's pilot project was first announced earlier this month, Environment Minister Ross Wiseman said the province has been increasing the number of moose hunting licences year-to-year.
In June, the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador certified a class-action lawsuit in relation to moose-vehicle accidents. Lawyer Ches Crosbie is working the case and he has called the province's recent actions "too little, too late."
