Transportation Minister Claude Williams says the traffic-calming measures are needed now that the toll booths have been removed. (CBC)

The provincial government is putting traffic-calming measures in place on the Saint John Harbour Bridge to improve motorist safety.

The toll booths used to help slow traffic down, but they have now been demolished, so the department is installing raised curbs and concrete barriers, said Transportation Minister Claude Williams.

There will also be a 50 km/h speed limit while crossing and screens that display how fast motorists are driving, he said.

"Our priority is to make sure that the bridge, once all that work is being carried out, that we will have a safe bridge that motorists can drive on."

All of the traffic-calming measures should all be in place by the end of the year, said Williams.

Repairs ongoing

Meanwhile, ongoing repairs to the bridge, which have been slowing traffic down, are expected to continue through to the fall of 2012.

The work has been causing major headaches for motorists during morning and evening rush hours.

Construction on the westbound lanes of the bridge was originally scheduled to be completed by the end of 2010, but the same two west lanes remain closed.

The provincial government is now responsible for the Saint John Harbour Bridge after signing an agreement with the federal government.

The federal and provincial governments signed an agreement last fall to turn the aging bridge over to the New Brunswick government.

The federal government agreed to help repair the 40-year-old structure and forgave the Saint John Harbour Bridge Authority's $22 million outstanding debt.

The deal was contingent on removing the bridge's 50-cent toll.