The pothole-plagued Mabel Lake Road in Enderby has been officially named the second worst road in all of B.C.
Just shy of 4,000 B.C. drivers voted on the state of the province’s roads through BCAA’s first Worst Roads survey. Mabel Lake Road took second place with 403 votes.
“It’s like driving over bones,” said Enderby Coun. Tony Vetter of the rough pavement which is in desperate need of resurfacing and some straightening from about five kilometres out and on. “You beat your car to death going out to (Mabel Lake Resort) and all the way back.”
Along with rough conditions deterring drivers from going out to the resort and/or golf course, Vetter says the road has several crooked corners that are a safety concern.
“Over the years there’s been some major accidents,” said Vetter, citing several fatalities. “It’s a potential for accidents.”
Now, the road that has been driving motorists mad for years has more proof to get the fix it needs thanks to the survey results.
“By voting in our first-ever ‘Worst Roads’ survey, B.C. drivers have given BCAA the information and mandate to advocate for road improvements in communities throughout the province,” said BCAA President and CEO Tim Condon.
Enderby council, the chamber and citizens can also use the survey results to pressure the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure for road improvements.
Other local roads joining Mabel Lake Road’s broken pavement and crooked corners on the list of the 20 worst roads in B.C. are:
No. 5 – Silver Star Road, 117 votes
No. 8 – Westside Road (north), 81 votes
No. 18 – Westside Road (south), 33 votes
A man died last month when his car plunged off Westside Road and sunk into the lake.
Jim Edgson, Central Okanagan west director, says the entire length of Westside Road is a concern and he encourages residents to use the survey results to put pressure on the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to fix it.
“I’ve been working very, very hard with the constituents to get this road fixed,” said Edgson of the road that is filled with potholes, blind corners and is an ongoing maintenance nightmare.
“I think the time has come for individuals within the Westside Road area, from 97 to 97, to come forward and start talking to the minister and make their voices known. Provide a bigger voice than just me.”
Ospika Boulevard South in Prince George topped the survey with 552 votes in the survey, which was conducted in May.
“What the ‘Worst Roads’ campaign does is enable drivers to highlight roads that may have been overlooked, or to remind governments that our infrastructure is aging, and certain roads and bridges no longer meet today’s safety standards or traffic volumes,” said Condon.
