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Where Things Stand - The pathetic streets in High Prairie
Mac Olsen
South Peace News
It’s time to go to Ottawa with hat in hand for more money to replace the asphalt on many of High Prairie’s streets.
It’s no secret they are in a pathetic state of disrepair - the cracks and potholes are everywhere.
However, it seems High Prairie may be able to cash in. Fort McMurray-Athabasca MP Brian Jean is trumpeting the $2 billion from the Gas Tax Fund his government is providing to Canadian municipalities.
“At a time when Canadian municipalities are feeling the effects of the global economic downturn, this increased, accelerated and permanent funding will provide more opportunities to put Canadians to work and get more money flowing through our local economy,” says Jean in an op-ed piece.
Let’s hope some of this money flows to High Prairie because we desperately need it for our streets. I have lived here for nearly two years and feel that I have a legitimate right to call for more funding for road resurfacing. I drive a late model car and it has survived the potholes of High Prairie, but there is no reason it should suffer endless and unnecessary wear and tear.
I will say, however, Edmonton is in the same situation. I was there on the Easter long weekend and found many roads in an even more pathetic state, except for the Yellowhead Highway.
On the subject of highways, assuming Highway 2 is resurfaced through High Prairie this summer, I call on the provincial government to ban all heavy commercial transport traffic through town – with the exception of local operators – and the creation of a bypass route.
I have made this call before and I stand by it today, but for a new reason. It’s not just because of the dangerous blind spots the big commercial transports create along the road. It’s also because they contribute significantly more to the disrepair of the asphalt than smaller vehicles. Every time I see a commercial transport, heavy equipment, or oilrig equipment going through town, I shudder to think of the pressure they place on the asphalt.
Business owners may be fearful they will lose business if this were to happen and criticize my position accordingly.
However, I believe not only will dangerous blind spots be reduced, the main street will last much longer without those oversized vehicles rumbling over it.
Moreover, it’s not as if the world will come to an end if they are barred from going through High Prairie. The affected businesses would adapt and the High Prairie and Area Chamber of Commerce, the Lesser Slave Lake Economic Alliance and other groups should develop marketing strategies to entice other forms of business here, such as increased tourism.
Thus, as the federal government is dishing out infrastructure money, we should be getting our fair share to resurface the streets. We should also ensure our main road through town will last much longer by barring heavy commercial transports from travelling over it once it is resurfaced.
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