It’s that time of year: enjoy those early robins, watch for the first crocus to bloom, and dodge the bloody potholes in the road.
The latter harbinger of spring gets special mention, with the official kickoff this week of CAA Atlantic’s Worst Roads Campaign. People throughout the region will be familiar with this annual attempt by the association to focus attention on the deplorable condition of many of the roads. Crumbling routes in Pictou County have over the years made the list – which doesn’t surprise residents, many of whom experience them first hand daily.
CAA has been doing this campaign – a service really – since 2010, and according to the organization tens of thousands of votes have been cast since that beginning. Anyone interested in casting a vote for their pet peeve road is invited to go to www.atlantic.caa.ca/worstroads or the CAA Atlantic Facebook page.
The organization has also reported in the past that roads making it to the top of the list often see some attention from the province not long afterward.
Coincidence? We think not. Bad publicity can be a powerful motivator.
Any driver, particularly those who have to navigate rural roads, knows the toll those potholes can take on a vehicle. In their press release, CAA says it has determined that by the time you add up the costs of traffic congestion, repairs, taxes and various other expenses, a bad road could cost the average motorist up to $3,000 each year.
That’s not to mention the danger factor when people have to dodge torn-apart sections.
Nova Scotia has long had a tarnished reputation for the poor condition of many of its secondary roads. They are obviously noticed by tourists, and occasionally some are vocal about their intention not to make a return visit for this very reason.
And think about it, the many beautiful natural attractions we have in this province, a lot of those are found by travelling a road that’s typically one way in, one way out.
Granted, the province is not awash in cash, for this or other services. Many “priorities” simply have to wait. Roads are theoretically ranked according to the most urgent need.
We have another factor to add to this particular conversation. After many years of public pressure, the provincial government has finally committed to a number of projects to twin portions of 100-series highways.
That includes one local stretch that’s long been a concern: Highway 104 between Sutherlands River and Antigonish. A piece of highway that has become notorious for a number of fatal crashes in recent years, twinning is expected to be complete by 2022.
These coming improvements are indeed welcome, and deservedly rank among priorities.
But many people have expressed concern that the extra funding over a number of years directed into 100-series highways will result in secondary roads getting short shrift.
That prospect presents a challenge to the province. It will have to keep pace with upgrades on those roads as well. And we can count on a fed-up public to remind them of that duty.
