Intelligent transportation systems (ITS)

New Brunswick has become a leader in Atlantic Canada in the promotion and use of intelligent transportation systems (ITS).

ITS uses advanced or emerging technologies in transportation to save lives, time, money, energy and the environment. It covers all modes, including  private cars, commercial vehicles, public transit, rail, marine and air.

ITS technology can enhance accessibility, safety, security, efficiency and sustainability in transportation. It provides an opportunity to improve road safety and emergency response in a rural environment, improve accessibility for tourism, improve efficiency for intermodal facilities, commercial vehicles and border crossings, and can increase economic prosperity in the region.

• Thirty-nine road weather stations operate on the province’s highways as part of the provincial Road Weather Information System. The highway cameras on these stations are available online for the information of the travelling public
• New Brunswick has four high-speed, weigh-in-motion systems in operation on the Trans-Canada Highway.
• ITS strategic plan for the Atlantic region.
• Trucks used by highway supervisors have been equipped with infrared sensors to measure pavement temperature.
• Salt and sand spreaders have computerized controls that select application rates.

Four Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) systems on the Trans-Canada Highway (Routes 1 and 2) are increasing efficiency for the trucking industry by reducing the number of weight compliant vehicles required to exit the highway and report to the scales. They are also reducing vehicle emissions and collision risks at access points.

These systems are located eastbound on Route 2 at Longs Creek, westbound on Route 2 at Deerwood and Salisbury and eastbound on Route 1 near Waweig. These systems are jointly funded by the Governments of Canada and New Brunswick.

An evaluation of the Longs Creek site indicates that the commercial trucking industry saves nearly $600,000 per year as the number of trucks required to report to the scales has been reduced by approximately 55 per cent.

Trucks approaching these systems are now required to use the right hand driving lane. Loops embedded in the roadway track the movement of each vehicle through the system. The WIM system registers a vehicle’s weight and axle configuration, as well as other information, as it travels over the WIM scale at highway speed. 

If the truck is determined to be non-compliant (weight or dimensions), a message is displayed on two roadside signs directing it to report to the weigh scales. This message is also displayed if the system detects an error such as a truck’s tires straddling the scale. If the truck is compliant, no message will appear on the signs and the truck can continue on its route.

Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (CVE) officers at the scales see images of each truck on a monitor and the information related to that vehicle. An alarm will sound at the weigh station if a truck attempts to by-pass the scales. Officers can also adjust the system to direct any number of trucks to report to the weigh scales, for other non-weigh or dimension enforcement inspection work that the CVE officers deem appropriate.