BY MARVIN YOUDEN
SPECIAL TO THE GEORGIAN
Residents in two separate areas of Bay St. George – Flat Bay-St. Teresa’s and Fox Island River – say they are frustrated with unsuccessful attempts to obtain support for what they consider dangerous road conditions in their communities.
Joanne Miles, vice-chief of the local aboriginal band, says roads that run between and within the communities of Flat Bay and St. Teresa’s are in a “deplorable state.” She said local residents have been attempting to bring attention to the situation by lobbying provincial government officials through petitions, letters and personal contacts but they are becoming frustrated with what they perceive as an absence of support.
“I am tired of being ignored,” Ms. Miles wrote in an email to The Georgian. “Especially when it comes to the safety of our residents.”
She explained that many potholes are not fixed properly, the pavement is broken and cracked, side roads are not paved, culverts have deteriorated and shoulders are narrow. One section of road is seriously in danger of being completely washed away, she said.
“When you enter from the Trans Canada Highway, onto route 403 into our beautiful aboriginal community, you will notice the many concerns that we have.”
Pointing out how important these issues are to the safety of local residents, Ms. Miles said she has asked for engineers to carry out appropriate testing to ensure the road’s safety.
One area runs close to the cliff side of a 100-foot-high embankment above the seashore, she wrote, and the guardrail is virtually hanging over the edge.
“They have started working on the roads and have removed the pavement in the area that is of most concern but the only things they will be doing is moving the guard rail in and paving the road.” She sees that as a “band-aid” solution.
“ What will happen to our small community if we lose our children in a tragic accident because the school bus is the largest and heaviest vehicle that regularly travels that road?”
She says local transportation routes should be up to acceptable provincial standards. “It is time for the government, through the Department of Transportation, to address the valid concerns of our aboriginal community,” Ms. Miles concluded.
MHA Joan Burke said the government has invested a significant amount of money on road work in the district during the past seven years. She said she has met with Ms. Miles regarding the section of road mentioned and work is being done to remedy the situation.
“Any time issues have come my may, I have responded,” she said. “I have always brought the residents’ concerns to the attention of the department of transportation and works.
Ms. Burke pointed out that there is a priority list, which is followed. Matters that carry a health and safety risk are fixed immediately, at least temporarily, until permanent repairs can be made.
“There are always competing priorities. Residents want [their specific problems] fixed immediately ]but] there is only so much money. We have done well in this.”
In Fox Island River, meanwhile, Yve Leroy, a concerned local citizen, says residents in his community, while thankful for the work being done on their road, are worried about the closeness of the road to the salt water and the looming danger of washouts once the fall and winter weather arrives.
“After efforts last year to dump armour stone along the road, most of it has fallen back into the sea,” he said in an email. “It seems like such a waste of money to do the much needed improvements to the road but not to address the issue of the road washing away.”
Road improvements that are currently being done include ditching, new culverts and paving. The danger, according to Mr. Leroy is that the salt water will take the newly paved road with it back into the sea.
“During the fall season when the tide is high and the wind is on the shore during storms, you take your chances, when driving down the road, of being hit by rocks thrown by the waves, sandblasted by sand and drenched in salt water and kelp,” he said. “It is as if you are driving on the beach.”
Residents want more large armour stone put in place to protect the road.
Ms. Leroy said a meeting Thursday of local resident. Jeff Leroy with MHA Tony Cornect and Transportation and Works Regional Director Cyril McCarthy brought no definite commitment of help with the deteriorating situation of the bank that is adjacent to the road.
But MHA Tony Cornect is more positive about it. He said the transportation and works department will continue to monitor the situation and if there is a need to do more work, they will do it.
“A lot of work has been done in the area,” Mr. Cornect said. “We have been down there numerous times. The situation has been noted and we will follow up on it.”
He pointed out that a large amount of armour stone has been put there for road protection and what has been washed down towards the water can be pushed back up. He also noted that a lot of the road is being paved this year.
“I am happy with that,” he said. “And if it continues to be a problem, we will find a solution to it.”
