Miramichi. like most Canadian communities, is being impacted by a changing climate. Increases in both temperature and precipitation are resulting in sea-level rise, coastal erosion and increased intensity and frequency of storm-surge events. Miramichi, which is in a tidal zone, is presently experiencing flooding during extreme precipitation events. The resulting climate change related impacts are having significant negative economic and socio-economic impacts on Miramichi. In May 2012. the Province of New Brunswick, through the Environmental Trust Fund (ETF), awarded Miramichi funding to assist with the carrying out of a Risk/Vulnerability Assessment (Assessment) of highway infrastructure in Miramichi using Engineers Canada’s “PIEVC Engineering Protocol for Climate Change Infrastructure Vulnerability Assessment” (PIEVC Protocol).

The principle objective of the Assessment was to identify those components of highway infrastructure in Miramichi that are at risk of failure. damage and/or deterioration from extreme climatic events or significant changes to baseline climate design values. The Assessment using the PIEVC Protocol (Version
10) focused on the two major arterial roads within Miramichi, namely the King George Highway from Curtis Road to the Centennial Bridge on the north side of the Miramichi River and Highway 117 extending from Lobban Avenue eastward to the East Point Road on the south side of the Miramichi River. The total length of arterial highway is approximately 20 km, all of which is located within the jurisdictional boundaries of Miramichi.