Worst Roads in B.C. List Released
Thursday, June 6, 2013 @ 8:43 AM
Prince George, B.C.- The final “Worst Roads” in B.C. list has been released by the BCAA, and for the first time in three years, there are no Prince George roads on the top ten list.
Kelowna’s Westside Road took top spot, this is the second straight year for that road in the number one position. The road is part of an improvement project organized by the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. Sections of Westside Road have already been resurfaced over the past year.
“We recognize the road work that has already taken place along Westside Road, and based on the votes, see that road users still feel more work needs to be done,” says Ken Cousin, BCAA’s associate vice president of Road Assist. “By placing Westside Road at the top of the list again, road users, including a local committee dedicated to improving the road, are putting a spotlight on the need for more repairs and improvement.”
In all, there were 581 stretches of road in the province which people noted as needing repair, redesign or which pose a safety risk.
For the first time, a Vancouver bike path is on the list, in fact it made it to second place. “It was really interesting to see a bike path get nominated which shows that cycling safety is an on-going concern and cyclists really see bike paths as their roads,” says Cousin. “The bike path making the top 10 ‘Worst Roads’ list speaks volumes about the need to ensure cyclists—and pedestrians, for that matter—have safe places to commute, which helps reduce the risk of traffic collisions for all road users.”
While poor road conditions continue to be the top problem cited, the percentage of votes made due to “potholes/crumbling pavement” has decreased from 77 per cent last year to 65 per cent this year. Meanwhile, roads nominated due to “pedestrian/cycling safety” and “traffic congestion” has increased from six percent to 15 per cent and four per cent to 14 per cent respectively.
“Throughout the campaign, we’ve spoken with road users and they’re telling us that safety is a great concern when it comes to the state of our roads,” says Cousin. “Improving the safety of all road users is a priority for BCAA, and if they feel poor road design and maintenance increase the risk of traffic collisions, we want to do what we can to help make road authorities aware about those dangerous and problematic roads in our province.”
As determined by B.C. road users voting in BCAA’s “Worst Roads” survey, the top 10 ‘worst’ roads are:
|
Rank
|
Road
|
Nearest community
|
Main problem cited (%)
|
|
1
|
Westside Road
|
Kelowna
|
Potholes/crumbling pavement (89%)
|
|
2
|
BC Parkway (Bike path)
|
Vancouver
|
Pedestrian/cycling safety (85%)
|
|
3
|
George Massey Tunnel
|
Richmond
|
Traffic congestion (90%)
|
|
4
|
Pacific Rim Highway
|
Port Alberni
|
Potholes/crumbling pavement (100%)
|
|
5
|
Vernon Slocan Highway
|
Cherryville
|
Potholes/crumbling pavement (96%)
|
|
6
|
Island Highway
|
Malahat
|
Traffic congestion (90%)
|
|
7
|
Indian River Drive
|
North Vancouver
|
Potholes/crumbling pavement (98%)
|
|
8
|
Sea-to-Sky Highway
|
Pemberton
|
Potholes/crumbling pavement (72%)
|
|
9
|
Harris Road
|
Saturna Island
|
Potholes/crumbling pavement (94%)
|
|
10
|
Todd Road
|
Kamloops
|
Pedestrian/cycling safety (82%)
|
In the coming weeks, the Association will provide the complete survey results to municipalities and the provincial Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to encourage improvements.
Comments
I see there was a category for pedestrian safety. If I had seen that I would have nominated Marleau Rd. and the frontage road between Marleau and Bon Voyage. With the subsivisions and malls close by there is a lot of pedestrian traffic on these narrow high volume roads. It is even worse in the winter. That road is also a major connection to hwy 16.
PG city roads if you do build a sidewalk please do not put in a back slope or everyone will still be walking on the road.
Why have a back slope on a road with a grade anyhow?
The City of Prince George needs to catch on. Their primary focus on road improvements has been for motor vehicles, but pedestrians and cyslists need improvements too.
That’s because we have so many to vote from.
I think Acrider54 speaks the truth….
It’s not that PG roads have gotten so much better and therefore non are in the top 10. It’s more like there are still a tonne of roads in PG that are in rough shape, so our votes are all over the place and therefore don’t rate.
I would be curious to see the entire list of submissions. How many roads have been submitted by community. I bet PG would make that top 10 list still.
I drove by Denny’s the other day…it’s still pretty rough. It’s hard to imagine how long before they get to repairing that one and it’s a pretty popular street.
Well, I guess it is some progress that PG doesn’t have 5 in the top 10 so I will say it is getting a little better!!
I guess that means there will be a decline in road work next year. If it does not make the headlines, then there is no problems.
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