'Long past its expiration date': Protesters, MHA agree Route 510 needs major fix
Frequent travellers on Route 510 in southern Labrador are demanding the province do more to fix its major pothole problem, staging protests on the highway Monday as well as at Liberal MHA Lisa Dempster's office.
"There's 22 kilometres [of road] that's in dangerous, critical condition," says Trent O'Brien, president of the Combined Councils of Labrador and vice-chair of the Transportation Advisory Committee for Labrador.
He said vehicle damage is constant, and accidents are a growing concern as drivers often veer to the opposite lane and shoulder of the road to avoid potholes.
O'Brien said the stretch of road between the Quebec border and Red Bay has been in "fairly bad condition" and gets "exponentially worse every year," since he moved home in 2011.
After a visit to the area on July 10 with the Department of Transportation and Works, MHA Lisa Dempster said crews took immediate action to repair 11 kilometres of road, including doubling the maintenance crew.
"These are OK temporary measures in the very, very temporary sense of the word. But they're not going to provide us with a safe, stable driving condition in this area," said O'Brien.
But his group wants an additional 9 kilometres of particularly dangerous road leveled and repaired, estimating the job would cost about a million dollars.
"To get us through until the roads can actually be repaired properly," he explained.
O'Brien said the group doesn't trust government's promise to pave the aging road, as work planned previously "never got started."
"We're in a position now where this area needs immediate attention because it is a huge safety risk."
'Woes with the contractor'
Dempster, MHA for Cartwritght-L'Anse au Clair, said Route 510 will be fixed — but a delay in the opening of an asphalt plant and issues with the contractor have been slowing down the process.
"Where we are right now is the asphalt plant is in and it is set up, and just moments ago I was in contact with Transportation and Works again. There's a technician on site, there's a couple more technicians coming today," Dempster told CBC News Monday afternoon.
She said she understands the frustration of the people in the area, as she and her family drive the road as well.
"There's no doubt that Route 510, the pavement there, is long past its expiration date. The road is in a very serious condition there," Dempster said.
She said the Liberal government earmarked money to pave the road in its first budget.
"Unfortunately we've experienced a lot of woes with the contractor there. Work that was scheduled to be done Sept. 2016 is still not done. We are addressing those issues with the contractor through the performance clause."
Dempster said $25 million will be spent paving 44 kilometres of road, starting next year from the Quebec border north to Pinware — then another contract to pave the stretch between Pinware and Red Bay.
"It's one thing for me to say the commitment is there, work is coming. I understand they're fed up because to date they've not seen anything.
"I'm fed up as well, very fed up. This has been a very difficult situation and safety has to be paramount of the travelling public."
