FREDERICTON — Transport officials and academics in New Brunswick have joined forces to improve North America’s highways, bridges and waterways.

The University of New Brunswick, in partnership with the Department of Transportation, along with businesses and IT professionals are embarking on a $4.3 million global civil infrastructure asset management project called TAMWORTH, which attempts to provide transportation decision makers with “a set of practical tools for prioritizing, planning and tracking construction, maintenance and operation of roads, bridges, buildings, water and waste water systems and for cost-effective maintenance and repair alternatives.”

“Our department’s decision to provide our asset management system to UNB for further development is a reflection of that commitment,” Transportation Minister Denis Landry said. “We are pleased to work with the University of New Brunswick and our other partners on a project that will be of benefit to the department, to the university and to our province’s economic development.”

Many of North America’s infrastructures were built after the Second World War, said Donath Mrawira, a professor in the department of civil engineering at UNB in Fredericton, “and are in need up upgrades. We definitely see a huge market for TAMWORTH, not only in North America, but internationally.”

The Government of Canada is investing over $2.4 million through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s Atlantic Innovation fund. The remainder will come from private sector partners and through in-kind contributions from the New Brunswick Department of Transportation, UNB, the City of Fredericton, and the Maritime Road Development Corporation.