CAA Saskatchewan’s worst roads campaign is in full swing, and already, five streets in Moose Jaw have made the preliminary list for being some of the most awful thoroughfares in the province.
CAA Saskatchewan recently released the tentative list of the top 10 worst or unsafe roads across the province for all road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, transit users, and drivers. The list contains 30 municipal roads and highways that residents think need to be addressed.
Mayfair Crescent in Regina tops the list so far, followed by highways in La Loche, Springside, Buffalo Narrows and Saskatoon.
Closer to home, Ninth Avenue Southwest is the first road in Moose Jaw on the list. This bumpy and slanted road sits in a tie for eighth place with three other streets in Saskatchewan.
There is a six-way tie for ninth place, with Fifth Avenue Northwest and Fourth Avenue (Thunderbird Viaduct) Southwest in the mix.
There is a whopping 13-way tie for 10th place on the worst roads campaign list, with Main Street North — so far — at the top and followed by Ninth Avenue Northwest.
New to this year’s campaign are updates and reports on a few previous CAA Worst Roads from roving reporter Dale Edward Johnson. Since the campaign’s April 6 start, Johnson has reported from Regina’s Grant Drive and Highway 33 near Kronau.
Johnson’s next report will be from Regina’s Eighth Avenue North, which was No. 2 in last year’s CAA Worst Roads Top 10 and is currently tied in eighth place. Johnson will also report from Canora with an update on Highway 9, which was in a three-way tie for No. 10 last year.
Johnson’s stand-up reports and streeter interviews will be posted weekly on CAA Saskatchewan’s YouTube channel.
Potholes and crumbling pavement remain the top issues for voters, while several factors can cause roads to deteriorate, from weather to the age of the roads to heavy traffic and lack of maintenance, CAA Saskatchewan said.
“In cold climates like Saskatchewan, the freeze-thaw cycle plays a significant role in creating potholes — a problem that occurs when temperatures regularly go above and below the freezing point,” the organization continued.
“When rain or snow seeps through cracks and openings in the pavement, it freezes and expands, causing the pavement to heave upward. Then as temperatures rise, the ground underneath the pavement returns to its normal level, leaving a cavity or hole, which breaks apart with continued use of vehicles driving over the fractured pavement.”
Nominations and votes for worst or unsafe roads will continue until April 30, while the top 10 worst roads will be announced on May 2.
CAA Worst Roads is an online engagement campaign that draws attention to the province’s worst, unsafe roads. At the end of the campaign, the top 10 roads list will be distributed to government and business leaders to spark conversation and action.
“Working towards safer roads for all road users is a priority for CAA Saskatchewan,” the organization added.
