Newfoundland hands out contracts for pilot program aimed at protecting roadside construction workers

ST. JOHN’S—A new pilot program designed to keep an eye on traffic passing through construction zones will soon get underway in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The province’s Department of Transportation and Works said Aug. 14 that it passed out three contracts worth a combined $81,000 to monitor vehicles on highway construction sites. Shanahan’s Investigation & Security, Redflex Traffic Systems and Sensys Gatso Group will be responsible for the roadside camera projects. Each will set up equipment in the coming weeks.

Ultimately aimed at keeping workers safe, the companies will monitor the speed of vehicles and report their results back to the province before next year’s construction season gets underway.

Steve Crocker, minister of Transportation and Works said the small pilot program will help guide the province’s next steps and help it determine whether or not cameras could be used more widely as an enforcement tool.

The Heavy Civil Association of Newfoundland and Labrador endorsed the project earlier this year, saying it hopes the cameras will encourage drivers to slow down and be more aware of workers.