FREDERICTON, N.B. — New Brunswickers paid $3 million in shadow tolls on the Moncton to Fredericton route last month according to members of the official opposition in the Legislature.

The creation of the four-lane highway was necessary because of driver safety and productivity issues, but the province’s decision to remove the tolls has left the Lord government simply replacing them with shadow tolls – in the form of other taxes paid by residents — whether they use the highway or not.

Summer holiday traffic created the highest price tag yet for the highway, but Finance Minister Peter Mesheau says the cost-benefit of the highway must be considered over time rather than month-by-month. It shows the highway is being used, he says, and the growth of the highway was certainly anticipated.