Trans-Canada Highway: Nb Closures

The Trans-Canada Highway is a transcontinental highway system that runs through all ten provinces of Canada, from the Pacific Ocean on the west coast to the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast. In New Brunswick, the Trans-Canada Highway is known as Route 2 and runs for 523 kilometres through the province, passing through several cities and towns. While the highway is typically open to traffic, there have been instances of closures due to flooding and protests. For example, in 2018, the Trans-Canada Highway between Fredericton and Moncton was closed for several days due to flooding, and in 2024, a portion of the highway near the New Brunswick and Nova Scotia provincial border was briefly shut down by police due to a large protest over the federal carbon tax.

Trans-Canada Highway closed due to flooding

The Trans-Canada Highway, a transcontinental highway system that spans across all ten provinces of Canada, has been closed in the province of New Brunswick due to flooding. The highway closure, which began on Thursday, is expected to last until the end of the week. This has resulted in traffic being rerouted through Saint John, with westbound vehicles being detoured to Route 1 at River Glade and eastbound traffic to Route 7 at Oromocto.

The flooding in New Brunswick has led to the closure of over 100 roadways, causing significant disruptions for travellers and residents in the area. The Trans-Canada Highway, a major transportation route, connects several cities in New Brunswick, including Edmundston, Fredericton, and Moncton. The highway typically provides a direct route for travellers between Nova Scotia and eastern Quebec.

The highway closure is a result of rising water levels in the area, which have caused the highway to be submerged in certain sections. Strong winds off Grand Lake have also contributed to the issue, causing erosion along the shoulder of the road. The extent of the damage is challenging to determine, as much of the highway remains underwater. However, there is evidence of gravel and driftwood along the westbound lane, indicating the need for repairs and cleanup.

The Trans-Canada Highway is a vital transportation artery in Canada, connecting most of the country's major cities. It is recognised by its distinctive white-on-green maple leaf route markers and spans a total of 7,476 kilometres across the country. While the highway is typically a preferred route for long-distance travel, the closure in New Brunswick has forced motorists to seek alternative routes or delay their journeys.

The flooding in New Brunswick has impacted not only the Trans-Canada Highway but also numerous other roadways in the province. The high water levels and strong winds have caused extensive damage, and the cleanup and recovery process is expected to be lengthy. Motorists are advised to follow detours and avoid travelling through the affected areas until the floodwaters recede and repairs can be made.

Trans-Canada Highway closed due to protests

On April 1, 2024, the Trans-Canada Highway near the New Brunswick and Nova Scotia provincial border was briefly closed due to a large protest over the federal carbon tax. The protest, which involved more than 100 people, caused traffic to back up on both sides of the border after the RCMP began diverting traffic on Monday morning. The highway was closed for "safety concerns," according to the RCMP, and reopened after approximately three hours.

The Trans-Canada Highway, also known as Highway 2 in New Brunswick, is a major provincial highway that connects New Brunswick with Quebec and Nova Scotia. It is a core route in the National Highway System and is a four-lane freeway for its entire length in the province. The highway typically sees heavy traffic as it is a key route for travellers moving between Nova Scotia and eastern Quebec.

The protest was part of a larger movement against the carbon tax increase, with similar demonstrations taking place across Canada. Protesters expressed their opposition to the tax by waving signs and flags, with some blocking the highway down to a single lane. While some motorists supported the protesters' cause, others expressed frustration over the delay caused by the highway closure.

The closure of the Trans-Canada Highway due to protests caused significant disruption and highlighted the impact of demonstrations on critical transportation infrastructure. The RCMP's diversion of traffic was necessary to maintain safety, but it also led to congestion and confusion for travellers. Such incidents underscore the delicate balance between upholding the right to peaceful assembly and maintaining public order and safety.

Trans-Canada Highway Route 2

The Trans-Canada Highway, also known as Route 2, is a major highway in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. It is a core route in the National Highway System and spans 523 kilometres through the province, connecting Nova Scotia to Quebec. The highway is a four-lane freeway for its entire length, directly serving the cities of Edmundston, Fredericton, and Moncton.

Route 2 follows the Saint John River Valley, running south from Edmundston to Woodstock, then turning east towards Fredericton. It crosses the Saint John River at Jemseg and continues east to Moncton, before reaching the border with Nova Scotia near Sackville.

The highway has undergone significant upgrades over the years, with a 20-year project completed in 2007 to replace the original two-lane highway with a four-lane freeway. The highway is known for its distinctive white-on-green maple leaf route markers.

In May 2018, the Trans-Canada Highway between Fredericton and Moncton was closed due to flooding, with traffic detoured through Saint John.

Trans-Canada Highway Route 95

Route 95 is a 14.5-kilometre-long (9.0 mi) provincial highway in New Brunswick, Canada. It connects Interstate 95 (I-95) at the Houlton-Woodstock Border Crossing near Houlton, Maine, United States, to New Brunswick Route 2 (the Trans-Canada Highway) in Woodstock, New Brunswick, Canada.

Route 95 is a four-lane freeway with a posted speed limit of 110 km/h (70 mph) and a design speed of up to 120 km/h (75 mph). The highway has been upgraded several times since its construction in the late 1970s, with the most recent major upgrade completed in 2007, turning it into a full freeway for its entire length.

The route begins at the Houlton-Woodstock Border Crossing on the Maine-New Brunswick border as an extension of I-95. The highway travels northeast through woodlands, intersecting with Route 540 and Vivglenn Road, before reaching its final interchange with Route 2 in Woodstock.

Route 95 provides a direct connection between the Trans-Canada Highway in New Brunswick and Interstate 95 in the United States, facilitating travel between the two countries.

The Trans-Canada Highway in New Brunswick, also known as the #2 Highway, runs for 523 kilometres (325 miles) through the province. It passes through several cities, including Moncton, Fredericton, and Edmundston, and connects with Autoroute 85 at the border with Quebec and Highway 104 at the border with Nova Scotia. The highway offers scenic views of the St. John River, the Fundy shores, and the Northumberland Straits.

Trans-Canada Highway Route 104

The Trans-Canada Highway is a transcontinental federal-provincial highway system that runs through all ten provinces of Canada, from the Pacific Ocean in the west to the Atlantic Ocean in the east. The highway runs through New Brunswick, where it is known as the #2 Highway. The Trans-Canada Highway connects with Nova Scotia's Highway 104 at the border.

Highway 104 in Nova Scotia runs from Fort Lawrence at the New Brunswick border near Amherst to River Tillard near St. Peter's. It forms the main route of the Trans-Canada Highway across the province, except for the portion on Cape Breton Island between Port Hawkesbury and St. Peter's. The highway is divided into two sections: the Trans-Canada Highway section, which runs from the New Brunswick border to Port Hastings, and a smaller section on Cape Breton Island.

The Trans-Canada Highway section of Highway 104 is a 4-lane divided freeway with a posted speed limit of 110 kilometres per hour (70 mph). It runs east from the inter-provincial border at Fort Lawrence for 48 kilometres (30 mi) past Amherst and Oxford to Thomson Station. From Thomson Station, the highway runs southeast for 45 kilometres (28 mi) to Masstown, a tolled section known as the Cobequid Pass.

Highway 104 continues past Masstown, intersecting with Highway 102, which connects to Halifax and southern Nova Scotia. The highway continues past Westville to Highway 106, a branch of the Trans-Canada Highway that connects to Prince Edward Island via ferry. Highway 104 then passes through Stellarton and reaches Sutherlands River, where the 4-lane divided freeway ends.

East of Sutherlands River, Highway 104 continues as a mix of 2-lane controlled access freeway, uncontrolled access 2-lane highway, and 4-lane divided freeway sections. The highway passes through Barney's River Station, James River, Addington Forks, South River Road, Dagger Woods, Pomquet Forks, Heatherton, and Auld's Cove before crossing the Strait of Canso along the Canso Causeway to Port Hastings on Cape Breton Island.

At Port Hastings, Highway 104 intersects with Trunk 4, Trunk 19, and Highway 105, where Highway 105 proceeds east, carrying the Trans-Canada Highway designation. There is an 8-kilometre (5 mi) gap in Highway 104 between Port Hastings and Melville, connected by Trunk 4. A bypass from Port Hastings to Melville has been proposed in the past, with concept designs showing a new alignment of a 4-lane freeway.

From Port Hawkesbury, Highway 104 runs east as a controlled-access Super 2 for 34 kilometres (21 mi) to its current eastern terminus at an at-grade intersection with Trunk 4 in River Tillard, near St. Peters. An extension of Highway 104 from River Tillard to Sydney River has been proposed, with the goal of providing a continuous controlled-access highway across Nova Scotia on the Trans-Canada Highway.

The Trans-Canada Highway continues on Highway 105 on Cape Breton Island until reaching the Marine Atlantic ferry terminal at North Sydney, where a ferry continues the highway to Newfoundland.

Frequently asked questions