Road rage: Millvale resident wants action taken on poor road conditions
CBC News | Posted: June 7, 2017 9:00 PM | Last Updated: June 7, 2017
Trout River Rd./Route 239 is 'very devastating for vehicles'
A resident of the Millvale community is raising his concern with the condition of the Trout River Rd./Route 239 in the Stanley Bridge area.
Mike Gallant is pushing to have the roads resurfaced, and in the meantime, have signs erected to warn drivers about potholes.
"On our main road where there's plenty of potholes and the roads are physically ripping up, there's no signs posted, no warnings," said Gallant.
"Vehicles are travelling not seeing these terrible holes, and you know, just ruining their vehicles basically."
'Almost impassable'
Gallant said that the roads in the area have been in poor condition over the past few years, but after this winter, they are especially bad.
He said that beyond wreaking havoc on vehicles the road presents a danger to the public.
"Places it's almost impassable. You've got to go on the side, the ditch, in order to avoid the potholes which is my main concern."
"You're meeting oncoming vehicles and sometimes you're on the opposite side of the road and there's lots of blind hills here, and some turns as well."
"You get cyclists, that's another concern."
'Pretty treacherous'
Gallant said that he has already had to do repairs on his car, and knows others that have had to do work on their vehicles.
"The roads are pretty treacherous."
He estimates a stretch of about three kilometres is in the worst shape, and worries that when tourists start coming through the area things will get worse.
"These holes are bad, they've got to be looked at."
'We're concerned here'
Gallant said he is putting up his own signs to get the province to take action, and hopes they get the attention of Paula Biggar, Minister for Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy.
"Just to let her be aware that we're concerned here," he said.
"I can't blame the employees, the workers, the only person you can blame is the minister. I mean that's her job, that's her portfolio, to take care of these roads."
The Department of Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy says the province has identified the section of road as "due for maintenance" and that asphalt patching for the road is scheduled.
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