Route 8 branches apart from the Route 2 (the Trans-Canada Highway) west of Fredericton at the Fredericton West High Speed Connector crossing Route 640 then Route 101. It follows the former TCH alignment to loop around the southern part of the city as a 4-lane freeway before narrowing to 2 lanes at the intersection of Route 102 and crossing to the north side of the Saint John River on the Princess Margaret Bridge. North of Fredericton, the highway crosses Route 105 and follows the east bank of the Nashwaak River as a 2-lane expressway where it is known as the Barkers Point Bypass then Marysville Bypass before changing to Bridge Street in Marysville before reverting to a 2-lane local road and crossing to the west bank which it changes to Canada Street in Sandyville. This is a temporary solution as this section is under major construction projected to end 2015.[2]
The road continues north following the Nashwaak River north to Nashwaak Village then continuing to Taymouth. From Taymouth, the road travels through Ross, Pleasant Valley and Nashwaak Bridge before leaving the Nashwaak Valley and climbs to the northeast passing through the communities of South Portage, McGivney and Astle to meet the Southwest Miramichi River at Boiestown.
The highway then follows the Southwest Miramichi River passing through Ludlow, New Bandon, Amostown, Nelson Hollow, before arriving in Doaktown intersecting with Route 123 then crossing the Southwest Miramichi River and following the North side of the river north-east through the communities of Blissfield, Upper Blackville, The Lots, then finally Blackville where it is known as Main Street intersecting with Route 118 the road then follows the Bartholomew River North-east towards Renous.
The road continues passing through the communities of Underhill, Smiths Crossing and crossing the Renous River before arriving in Renous at the intersection of Route 108, The road continues north-east crossing Route 415 before entering Derby Junction at the intersection of Route 420 and Route 108 the road then becomes a 2-lane expressway as it crosses the Northwest Miramichi River then Route 425.
In Newcastle and reverts to a local road after the junction with Route 430 locally known as Beaverbrook Blvd. The Road then unmerges from Route 430 but then merges with Route 117. The Route then crosses the Miramichi Bridge then Route 126 intersection. The road then continues to travel within the City of Miramichi where the route is locally known as the King George Highway. The road loops through Miramichi unmarking with Route 117 and Merges with both Route 134 and Route 11 north-west crossing the Centennial Bridge through passes through Douglastown. At Douglastown the highway unmerges with Route 11 continuing north where Route 8 turns northward as a 2-lane expressway merged with Route 134 continuing towards Bathurst.
The Route continues North passing Bartbog, Intersecting at Route 450 east of community of Lavillette. Shortly after the Route Unmerges from Route 134 as it continues north west. It bypasses the village of Allardville at the Intersection of Route 360 and Route 134 and has its northern terminus at an interchange with Route 11 south of Bathurst.
History
Route 8 was one of the original numbered highways in New Brunswick in the 1920s. The route changed little until bypasses were built on Fredericton's north side in 1982, between Renous and Newcastle in 1988, and between Bathurst and Allardville in 1990. The highway was extended south along the former Trans-Canada bypass of Fredericton in 2001. In November 2006, a two-lane bypass of a section of the former town of Newcastle opened between the Anderson Bridge (over the Northwest Miramichi River) and a junction with Route 430; providing easier access to the existing Route 117 bypass on the south side of the Miramichi River.
On 12 January 2008, seven high school basketball players and a teacher were killed in an accident when their van collided with a tractor-trailer near the Route 11 exit into Bathurst. The tragedy drew statements of condolence from Prime Minister Stephen Harper and provincial premier Shawn Graham.
Future
A bypass between the Fredericton suburb of Marysville and South Portage, north of Taymouth, is currently being constructed[3] Clearing and grading of the right-of-way for the bypass began in 2007.
Major intersections
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Route 7 in Fredericton
Route 10 in Fredericton
Route 108 in Renous
Route 11 in Miramichi
