The Newfoundland and Labrador government is putting $6 million into new moose fencing and brush clearing along two dangerous stretches of highway, aiming to cut down on collisions that have long plagued drivers across the island. Deputy Premier and Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Barry Petten announced the funding on May 29, 2026, alongside Art Puddister of the Save Our People Action Committee, a group formed by crash survivors.
The money will pay for 4 kilometres of fencing from the Foxtrap weigh scales to Round Pond on the Avalon Peninsula, southwest of St. John’s, and 6.5 kilometres between Glide Lake Road and Little Harbour near Deer Lake in the western region. Both projects will run alongside the Trans-Canada Highway. Tenders have already been issued, with construction set to start later this year.
Along with the fences, the $6 million includes clearing over 400 kilometres of brush along highways to give drivers a better view of moose before they step onto the road. The province normally sees between 400 and 600 moose-vehicle crashes each year, with most happening from May to October.
The provincial announcement comes after years of advocacy by SOPAC, which runs a Moose Sightings Hotline at 1-855-89-MOOSE and public awareness campaigns with $30,000 in annual government funding. The group has pushed for a long-term plan to build 15 to 20 kilometres of fencing over a decade, arguing that the barriers save lives and reduce strain on the health-care system. A previous 17-kilometre fence near Stephenville on the west coast significantly cut collisions there.
For people in and around Bay Roberts, the new fence on the Avalon Peninsula will offer extra protection on a section of highway that sees steady commuter traffic into St. John’s. The project nearly doubles the $3.8 million originally set aside for moose fencing in Budget 2026, a sign the province is responding to ongoing pressure for safer roads.
