The Save Our People Action Committee (SOPAC) is looking for a long term commitment on moose fencing along the TCH, but Transportation Minister Barry Petten says he can’t make any commitments quite yet.
Government is spending $6-million on two new moose fencing and brush cutting initiatives near Foxtrap, and one near Deer Lake. Minister Petten says this is nearly double the budget from last year.
Tenders have been issued, and construction is expected to begin later this year.
While Art Puddister of SOPAC welcomes that news, he would like to see a long-term plan for such projects in the future.
Puddister says he would like to see a commitment of 15 to 20-km of fencing per year, over a 5 to 10 year period.
Although not quite reaching the requested 15-km this year, Minster Petten says they are by no means giving up any time soon.
Petten says he can’t make any full commitments right now, but he is committed to safer highways for everyone. He says it’s important to the government and the people, and he wants to get more areas of moose fencing up as soon as possible.
