Week 2 of CAA Saskatchewan’s annual Worst Roads Campaign is nearly over, and four pothole-filled and poorly maintained streets in Moose Jaw have made it to the top 10.
As of April 19, Coteau Street West was in fifth place for its pothole problems, 13th Avenue Northwest was in eighth spot for its pothole troubles, Fourth Avenue Southwest was in ninth place for its pothole pitfalls and the Thunderbird (Fourth Avenue) Viaduct was in 10th spot for being poorly maintained.
In first place is Highway 22 near Cupar, in second place is Highway 8 near Moosomin and in third place is Highway 5 near Buchanan.
Angel Blair, CAA Saskatchewan’s Worst Roads’ roving reporter, has been visiting some of the worst locations in Saskatchewan, speaking to residents and producing videos. One location she visited recently was Highway 9 near Hudson Bay in eastern Saskatchewan.
That highway was No. 9 last year, No. 3 in 2022 and 2021 and No. 5 in 2018. Residents have identified potholes as the main problem.
According to Jenn Hallen, “There is absolutely a safety concern — they are not just little bumps in the road or little cracks. Those potholes there are big — you hit them, and (they rock) your vehicle. It is unsafe; I avoid travelling that way as much as possible.”
Said Kelly Stonehouse, “We have had a couple of close calls — a couple of people that have had some pretty big car bills, and it’s been neglected long enough … it needs some work.
“The local crew does the best they can to patch them, but it only stays for so long – by the end of the winter, they are all back – they just peel like a scab – they are just temporary they can only do so much.”
Blair also met with road users in Whitewood because Highway 9 placed seventh last year because of safety issues.
Said resident Raquel Bear, “This past two years is probably the worst we have ever seen it — the ruts are just unbelievable.”
According to Braedy Nesbitt, “It’s just like riding a tube — the first bump is four feet and (the) second bump when you hit the resound, you go like eight feet — everything in my cab probably flipped about a foot or two. I was lucky nothing went under my brake or gas…... but it’s a pretty rough ride.”
To nominate the worst road, people should visit caask.ca/worstroads, select a road and a specific section or segment, and then vote. People can vote on a road once every 24 hours.
CAA Saskatchewan will use its social media channels —including Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn — to promote the campaign for worst roads nominations and votes. Blair’s interviews will be scheduled weekly on those channels.
