Particle.news
Download on the App Store
34 ARTICLES
·
3w ago

New Brunswick Municipal Strain: Roads Shortfall, Covered Bridge Closure and Local Planning Pause

Severe budget shortfalls threaten upkeep of roads plus heritage structures, prompting councils to seek provincial help.

Moncton city council is proposing to regulate the shared e-scooter industry, including requiring rental companies to be licensed and meet operating and safety standards.
Tradesmen from the 4 Engineer Support Regiment pose alongside a Habitat for Humanity affordable bungalow they have helped the nonprofit build this summer.
The Hardscrabble Bridge in St. Martins has been closed due to structural concerns but the closure has Mayor John Cairns worried whether the province will replace it with another covered bridge preserving the area's picturesque uniqueness.
Saint John-based Moosehead Breweries ships 10 per cent of its beer to the U.S. annually. Andrew Oland, president and CEO of Moosehead, says looming 50-per-cent U.S. tariffs on Canadian alcohol would be a 'challenge' for the company.

Overview

  • Bathurst officials say the city cannot keep up with maintenance for about 360 kilometres of streets, estimating full resurfacing at roughly $638 million while the current annual paving budget is about $1.86 million, a gap that will widen the repair backlog unless spending increases.
  • The Hardscrabble Covered Bridge over the Irish River was closed by the provincial Department of Transportation and Infrastructure on July 17 for public safety because of structural deterioration, with officials estimating the closure could last about two years while replacement options, including a covered‑bridge rebuild, are considered.
  • Miramichi city council unanimously rescinded a proposed bylaw to allow data centres and battery storage in heavy industrial zones and ordered staff to get third‑party expert advice and intergovernmental input after public complaints about large water use, noise and siting; staff had proposed limits such as closed‑loop cooling and a 250‑metre buffer from residences.
  • The RCMP added two charges in the Aug. 27, 2025 La Mine d’Or armed robbery case, bringing the number of people charged to five, all from Prince Edward Island, with some defendants in remand and court scheduling continuing into next year.
  • A 27‑year‑old woman, Vanessa Karen Ricketson, has been charged in the March hit‑and‑run that killed a 19‑year‑old on the Trans‑Canada Highway and the case returns to court on Aug. 11, a string of developments that illustrate how local leaders are juggling safety, legal processes and limited budgets while seeking clearer provincial coordination.