Methinks Mr Minister made a HUGE Faux Pas N'esy Pas?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/route-616-bill-fraser-transportation-minister-potholes-1.4610890

Minister blames Route 616 potholes on weather, contractor and PC leader

Transportation Minister Bill Fraser says province is working with a contractor to get road fixed

Elizabeth Fraser · CBC News · Posted: Apr 09, 2018 9:50 AM AT

89 Comments

 Commenting is now closed for this story.


 
David Amos

"Fraser blamed Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs for leaving the Liberals with problems to fix four years ago."

Methinks Mr Minister made a HUGE Faux Pas N'esy Pas?

 
David Amos

Methinks Blaine Higgs should be ashamed for engineering all those nasty potholes for the liberals to fix before an election four years later N'esy Pas?

 

David Amos

@David Amos Methinks the biker in me should offer folks a little Dea Vu N'esy Pas?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/kars-route-124-dti-transportation-infrastructure-motorcycle-pothole-1.3599111

Injured motorcyclist criticizes state of Kars road
Four motorcycles involved in weekend accident after pothole encounter on Route 124
Connell Smith · CBC News · Posted: May 25, 2016 3:36 PM AT

 
David Amos

Methinks we should compare the news from last week to today. N'esy Pas?

Would not the money we don't have be far better spent adding a few passing lanes all along the entire Route 11 to make it safer. Then spend the rest of the borrowed money making our back roads safer as well?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/twinning-route-11-1.4605144

Route 11 twinning gets $180M in federal, provincial money
About 20 kilometres of the eastern New Brunswick highway to be twinned, starting this summer

Roger Richard

@David Amos The twinning of Route 11 is the most stupid thing I have ever heard. We are already an « over-roaded » province. Added to that, we cannot upkeep those roads.

Roger Richard

@David Amos That federal money was supposed to help pay the loan at Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station. Instead, it is just wasted.

 

Rod McLeod

I'll concede that weather can be hard on roads. I agree the road should be brought up to standard but I suspect the biggest culprit here is the standard itself. It likely does not ensure that enough of the proper materials are put in place to prevent these issues. This is likely a sub-standard.

David Amos

@Rod McLeod YUP

Clive Gibbons

@David Amos

You forgot to say methinks and the poorly spelled N'est ce pas.

David Amos

@Clive Gibbons Methinks I should use my trademark expression when I wish to upset my political foes such as yourself not somebody I agree with N'esy Pas?

David Amos

@Clive Gibbons You have an interesting name is it fiction?

Clive Gibbons is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Geoff Paine.

Paine decided not to renew his contract and he departed Neighbours on 27 February 1987. In 1989, the character made a brief return, before departing once again in October of that year. Paine reprised the role 28 years later, and Clive returned from 9 March 2017 as the new chief operating officer (COO) of Erinsborough Hospital.

  
Mario Doucet

Twinning highways that lead nowhere for the Acadians at a cost of millions, that's where your highway maintenance money is. Buying votes for Gallant.

David Amos

@Mario Doucet YUP

David Amos

@Mario Doucet "Fraser blamed Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs for leaving the Liberals with problems to fix four years ago."

Methinks Mr Minister is suffering from a politician's most feared malady and just before an election too boot. I believe it should be found in some book under the Maritime Malaise heading Its called "Foot in Mouth" disease N'esy Pas?

Clive Gibbons

@Mario Doucet

That road to nowhere carries 8300 vehicles per day, compared to 5300 on the already been twinned hwy 1 from Saint John to St Stephen. Who's votes did that highway buy?

David Amos

@Clive Gibbons Methinks you speak like a true liberal N'esy Pas?

Clive Gibbons

@David Amos

Just facts. Either Hwy 11 needs twinning, or Hwy 1 didn't. Pick one.

David Amos

@Clive Gibbons Methinks you are trying a trick question on man who loves to argue lawyers N'esy Pas?

Clive Gibbons

@David Amos

It isn't a question. It's a fact. These numbers are provincially available AADT figures. A lot (most) of the twinned highways in Southern NB have lower numbers than the yet to be twinned Hwy 11. Can't be a language thing, can it?

David Webb

@Clive Gibbons I would like to see your source for this. I travel both highways and it would make a huge difference at what location you do any counts. However I do think that the road to St. Stephen was done on Irving orders given all the fuel, french fries, paper and diapers they ship to the USA.

David Amos

@Clive Gibbons I have made other comments within this forum about the Highway 11 nonsense I see no need to be redundant

However it was you who raised the language issue with me about my concerns about the sate of our back roads roads in Canada's only bilingual province. Hence you must know of my issues with the Crown.

Methinks Federal Court File No. T-1557-15 does have a language issue mentioned within it in my Charter argument N'esy Pas?

David Amos

@David Webb I agree

 
Rick Dunn

Unfortunately we are experiencing an epidemic of poor quality road work in NB. I feel it is due to low standards being established/enforced by the DOT.....and Minister Fraser.

There is no way a road that is properly constructed should "fall apart" in 8 months.

Perhaps the company responsible should repair it at "No Charge" to taxpayers.....or be disqualified from bidding on future work?

This "low bid" nonsense is just that.....nonsense.

David Amos 

@Bernard Cormier "I should clarify.......if specs are proper and work was not done to spec.....and contractor is not willing to repair.....then they are disqualified from future work."

Methinks if specs are proper the contractor should also be compelled to pay the costs of doing the job properly. Any other business would be held accountable to its clients for shoddy workmanship. Just because they are doing business with the government on the taxpayer dime should not let them off the hook N'esy Pas?

  
Shawn McShane

"Through our procurement process we're obligated to go with the low bid when we award a contract to a company." - Transportation Minister Bill Fraser

How does a tender get awarded?
Multiple criteria in addition to Price are sometimes used when evaluating bid results (such as Request for Proposals) and therefore the lowest bid may not always be awarded the tender.

http://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/government_services/procurement/content/process.html

David Amos

@Shawn McShane "therefore the lowest bid may not always be awarded the tender"

Methinks it also matters which political party the contractor supports and what riding the job is within N'esy Pas?

 

Lloyd Joslin

Something is wrong with the way roads are built, the road i live on was done three times in a yearand is falling apart, done by a N.S. company

David Amos

@Lloyd Joslin Methinks that it has a lot to do with what is under the pavement N'esy Pas?

 

Brian Robertson

Liberals cannot stop themselves from blaming previous governments for their own shortcomings.

Trudeau did the very same last week when addressing questions on the delays to the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion.

Is there any wonder their party ranks lowest in terms of credibility and integrity.

David Amos

@Brian Robertson Methinks I will stick to the same advice I offered the folks as I ran as an Independent in five elections thus far. I asked that the folks who don't bother to vote to please do so and vote for anyone they wish except one person. That person is the incumbent no matter what colour of coat they wear. One cannot change the mind of loyal party members. However swing voters and new voters can bring about a true change in how our rights and interests are protected N'esy Pas?

David Amos

@Sterling Wright Methinks you forgot to say that PANB has all the answers N'esy Pas?

 
Rosco holt

There is also the kind of traffic that's a factor. More transport truck pulling heavy load damages roads. Most operators use secondary roads to bypass weight checks, unless the weighting stations are closed.

David Amos

@Rosco holt YUP

 
Archie Levesque

All kinds of cash for the road to the "Tourist Areas" of the province though

David Amos

@Archie Levesque YUP

 
Tim Raworth

This is not the only road to be chip sealed last year that has completely gone to shreds. Its the tender specs that the Prov puts out that is the problem. I can't remember exactly what the figure was but Miller was only required to put down a couple or 3 millimeters last year when they did the Rte 895 and its full of holes now. Keeps the cost down so they can make it look like a lot is being done but its inferior work.

David Amos

@Tim Raworth Methinks we should ask why such poor "specs" when we all know that they should know better after all these years of paving roads in the liberals' idea of "The Place To Be" N'esy Pas?

Jason Inness

If we actually built things to last, we'd save a lot of money in the long run. Building things (roads, sewers, etc.) to last only a couple billing cycles means pushing the cost into the future. We end up paying more, and having crappier infrastructure in the mean time.

David Amos

@Jason Inness Ahh yes However methinks it makes for lots of work for their political pals N'esy Pas?

  
Jonas Smith

Billy Fraser using the old trick in the book, blame the former government. Fraser needs to understand that excuse only works for so long. Four years after the last government and they're still blaming it. I wonder who they'll blame if they get back in.

David Amos

@Jonas Smith Fixing potholes in New Brunswick ain't rocket science after all these years. Somebody goofed. Methinks it is just that simple N'esy Pas?

 

Daniel Rawlins

I believe NB is experiencing the same thing NS is when it comes to highways, 'engineers' ... it is pretty clear to anyone with even a tiny bit of common sense and a dash of know-how that most provincial civil engineers were not those who made the deans list in university. Provinces seem to apply the same criteria to hiring highway engineers they do with their tendering processes quality plays no part in bidding or in hiring .... or so it seems to me.

David Amos

@Daniel Rawlins Seems to ME TOO

 

Ray Bungay

QUOTE:

“In addition to blaming the weather and suggesting the contractor was also at fault, Fraser blamed Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs for leaving the Liberals with problems to fix four years ago.“

Sorry Mr Fraser you lose on that statement! Your Government hired a contractor who was to make the job right? That contractor obviously has failed and blaming the PCs four years later is like the the Liberals in Ottawa blaming the Cons 3 years later for the Phoenix disaster or POTUS still blaming Obama and Hilary for all the US problems. Why not Mr. Minister suck it up and deal with it. It has been the Liberal problem for four years‼️

David Amos

@Ray Bungay "Why not Mr. Minister suck it up and deal with it. It has been the Liberal problem for four years‼️"

Methinks that Mr. Minister don't care because most of the pothole problems are in ridings that liberals can't win N'esy Pas?

 

Steve Flogeras

$1M for 1km? Sounds awfully steep. A quick Googling shows that Ontario costs from 10yrs ago were $1M / km to construct a 4 lane highway (from scratch) and $280K / km to construct a regular (paved) road from scratch. Resurfacing was $80k / km (for paved roads) and $20k / km for unpaved. Yes, these are 10yr old figures, but unless inflation was 55% per year for each of the last 10yrs (hint, it wasn't), then it sounds like we got hosed by Hogan Paving Ltd. and shame on DoT for accepting that price.

David Amos

@Daniel Rawlins "it met DoT. requirements and was likely signed-off as satisfactory and up to spec. by a project engineer or highway supervisor"

Methinks that should be disturbing N'esy Pas?

  
Ian Scott

Sure and hire the same contractor to redo the work. So whose in whose pockets to get a crap job sent back to you again . These are winters, just like winters have been before. Same crap engineering we are seeing in lots of places and just like NB power excuses, its piss poor maintenance that has caused lot of failures.

David Amos

@Rick Dunn "I emailed the Minister, and got a message back that they would look into it but it would take six weeks."

Methinks you are way ahead of me the only time Fraser ever got back to me was when we were running in the same election in 2006. Ever since I am not worthy of a response N'esy Pas?

Rick Dunn

@David Amos oh don't worry......he didn't get back to me either, it was an email from a junior person in his office.....and then no response on my subsequent 14 emails to his office.
His lack of response if very consistent.

 
Sam Brown

"He said engineers with the department initially tested materials used in the project, which met requirements. "

Ok the materials met the specs.....BUT.....who inspected/approved the installation ?
There are two parts to a construction contract......Materials...and....Installation....
Was this a Design/Build type contract or were Prescriptive specs. given to the Contractor by the Province. ?......If prescriptive specs. were given to the Contractor, and the project was approved/accepted by the Province, then who is to blame for failure ?

And who do think pays for the warranty ?.....The Contractor just adds the cost of a warranty to his initial bid..

Good Day

David Amos

@Sam Brown Good questions. Good luck getting answers.

 
Daniel Rawlins

I just can't hep but wonder how well an asphalt cold patch product will work on pot-holes in what looks like a gravel road...?

David Amos

@Daniel Rawlins Methinks you are not familiar with the area N'esy Pas?

  
Paul Whalen

Bill Fraser blaming pot holes on Global warming. Sorry to tell you folks but this is pure nonsense & misinformation spending a few bucks on the Trudeau cash cow parade. You can't put lip stick on a pig Bill and expect their will be a chicken in every ones pot : get your head out of the Glue Bag. Bill .

David Amos

@Paul Whalen Methinks you are not fond of Bill N'esy Pas?

  
Paul Whalen

Chump change Liberal hand outs to Newbrunswickers will be gone sooner than a fart in a mitt. , then what? Mindless of innovation and industrialization in the province, expect more cheap tricks from this bootlicking party. Road s; pot holes arre of no concern to those without a pot to piss or a window to throw it out. Bill Frazer is selling the same old snake oil as his predecessors- short lived to line the pockets of the same few gang members posing a poor like you , while bleeding residents of the only thing we ever knew -Self determination and the benefit of hard work . The Liberals stole every thing of any value over the past 40 years and Quebec still pees on newbrunswickers telling us it's raining.

David Amos

@Paul Whalen Methinks what the paving companies charge us to fix our roads is far from hump change N'esy Pas?

 

Stewart Campbell

This is typical of the Gallant Liberals still blaming the previous government on pot hole issues. Fraser never was a gem in cabinet and he sure is showing it.

David Amos

@Stewart Campbell Methinks Fraser makes a wonderful Clown in Gallant's Circus N'esy Pas?

 

 

Ashley Tucker

I disagree with this statement: 'When the repairs were completed last year, he said the road "was in good shape."'
The road chip seal was terrible last year. I was shocked when they painted the yellow line down the road because it didn't seem finished yet. It wasn't smooth and was better with the old pavement.

David Amos

@Ashley Tucker Methinks that is indeed interesting because I believe the province paints the lines N'esy Pas?

 

 

 

Craig O'Donnell

Blaming the last governing party almost 4 years into your mandate is getting very old and very childish.

David Amos

@Craig O'Donnell Methinks folks watching the Circus can often enjoy old childish actions if it puts egg on the face of mindless aggressive clown N'esy Pas?

 

 
David Amos
Methinks most folks would not believe how much fun can be had dealing with pothole issues with greedy politicians but my political foes would have to admit that I often mention them in conversations. Put yourself on two wheels and you would understand my concern N'esy Pas?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/kars-route-124-dti-transportation-infrastructure-motorcycle-pothole-1.3599111

Injured motorcyclist criticizes state of Kars road
Four motorcycles involved in weekend accident after pothole encounter on Route 124
Connell Smith · CBC News · Posted: May 25, 2016 3:36 PM AT

Minister blames Route 616 potholes on weather, contractor and PC leader

Transportation Minister Bill Fraser says province is working with a contractor to get road fixed

Elizabeth Fraser · CBC News · Posted: Apr 09, 2018 9:50 AM AT

The roadwork that was done on Route 616 never lasted past its first blast of winter. This road was repaired last summer, and is now covered with potholes. (Gary Moore/CBC)



Transportation Minister Bill Fraser is blaming part of Route 616's faulty road conditions on the province's mercurial weather — and promises people in the Keswick Ridge area that the stretch of road will be repaired.

A contractor rebuilt the one-kilometre stretch of Route 616 eight months ago in a project overseen by the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure. Before that, the road was cracked and broken, and potholes were emerging.

The same contractor will do the next repair work.

"We've had some extreme weather conditions … we're working with the contractor who was awarded the tender to ensure that that road is going to be brought back to standard," Fraser said Monday in an interview with Information Morning Fredericton.

In addition to blaming the weather and suggesting the contractor was also at fault, Fraser blamed Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs for leaving the Liberals with problems to fix four years ago.

• No place to drive: Keswick Ridge residents call for Route 616 pothole repairs 
• 'We got ripped off': Keswick Ridge residents blame province for Route 616 potholes 
• 4 New Brunswick roads make CAA Atlantic's worst 10 list

Last week, residents gathered at a town hall meeting to express their concerns about the road conditions.

Fraser said he feels the frustration of people travelling on Route 616. He said that Higgs, when he was finance minister in the former PC government, made spending decisions that led to bad roads.

"I want to assure the people that live on that section of road and that travel that section of road on a daily basis that we are going to get that fixed," Fraser said.

"It's going to be brought back up to the standard that it needs to be brought back up to."

Work to last longer than 8 months

Tanya Greer, a spokesperson with the Department of Transportation, said the cost was about $1 million for the initial road repairs done by Hogan Paving Ltd., the successful bidder on the job.

In an email to CBC News, she said the next round of repairs will be covered by the contractor under warranty.

Fraser said the province put out a tender last year and repair work was done on the road.

"Through our procurement process we're obligated to go with the low bid and when we award a contract to a company, they're obligated to follow the specifications of the contract," he said.

"Any remediation that we can receive back from the company we will base on the contract that we had with the company."

When the repairs were completed last year, he said the road "was in good shape."



Fraser said the province was expecting the repair job to last longer than eight months.

He said engineers with the department initially tested materials used in the project, which met requirements.

"That's why there's warranty, that's why there's specifications in our contracts, in our tenders," he said.

"To ensure that anybody who does work for the province of New Brunswick through our procurement process, they have to meet those standards and if they don't they have to be held to account."

Now the department is working with the contractor to make sure the road is brought back to standard.

Repairs will have to wait

But repair work can't be done on the road until temperatures warm up.

"We're working diligently with the contractor to ensure the work is done to bring it back up to where it needs to be," he said.

"Unfortunately, we can't do that work right immediately in this time frame."

In the meantime, the department has been out repairing potholes with an asphalt cold-patch product and putting up signs warning drivers of potholes.

The local service district will hold its annual meeting on April 17. Fraser said he or a representative will attend.

CBC News has reached out to Hogan Paving, but the company did not wish to comment.