Manitobans have spoken, and a large majority are not happy with our roads.
CAA Manitoba is back with its Worst Roads campaign, and 711 roads across 69 municipalities were nominated for the top spot. The most common concerns cited were potholes, poor maintenance and uneven road surfaces.
Taking the top spot this year, for the second year in a row, is Provincial Trunk Highway 34. The Pembina Valley highway west of Winnipeg has appeared on the provincial top 10 list seven times.
Richmond Avenue in Brandon is rated as the fifth-worst road in the province, and 1st Street in Brandon was ranked eighth.
Full Top 10:
- PTH 34 - Central Plains/Pembina Valley
- Provincial Road 307 - Whiteshell
- Kenaston Boulevard/Route 90 - Winnipeg
- Saskatchewan Avenue - Winnipeg
- Richmond Avenue - Brandon
- Gateway Road - Winnipeg
- Leila Avenue - Winnipeg
- 1st Street - Brandon
- Provincial Road 422 - Pembina Valley
- St. Mary's Road - Winnipeg
Ewald Friesen is the manager of government and community relations for CAA Manitoba.
"We also noted this year that we had a good split of urban and rural," said Friesen. "This also reflects a general discontent with the state of our roads and infrastructure in the province."
While no roads in the Parkland were named to the top 10 list, CAA released a top five regional list for the Parkland.
Provincial Trunk Highway 45 took home the top spot. Mountain Road in Dauphin was rated as the second-worst in the region.
Provincial Road 366 was ranked the third-worst, while Provincial Road 357 was voted the region's fourth-worst.
Road North 10, which connects the municipality of Gilbert Plains to areas like the Duck Mountain Provincial Park, was ranked the fifth-worst in the region.
CAA Manitoba is urging provincial and municipal governments to continue prioritizing predictable, year-over-year investment in road maintenance and safety.
Early intervention is key to extending the life of a road.
"We know that obviously Manitobans depend on our roads and that's ever more important these days," added Friesen. "We're having a national conversation about our economy, trade corridors, and inter-provincial trade. Infrastructure investment is a very important discussion."
92 percent of Manitobans are concerned with the state of our roads.
"And 82 percent believe roads aren't repaired in a timely fashion," continued Friesen. "About half of us say that the situation is getting worse."
Poor road infrastructure is also hitting Manitobans pocketbooks. Vehicle damage because of poor roads is skyrocketing.
On average, each year, Manitobans spend $944 out-of-pocket, resulting directly from poor roads.
"Year-over-year infrastructure saves the life of the road, and it's great for our economy," commented Friesen. "Most importantly, it has a direct effect on our pocketbooks in Manitoba."
When you hit the road this summer, CAA is urging you to stay safe. Summer driving brings higher traffic volumes and an increased risk of severe collisions.
In Manitoba, speeding plays a factor in nearly 30% of fatal and injury crashes.
"We're reminding folks that speed and aggressive driving has no place on our roads," ended Friesen. "Please be mindful of your speed and other folks on the road. Obviously, we want to get out to the cottage, the campsite, and go on road trips, but be safe."
The weather is heating up and as Manitobans, we all play a part in being safe, and allowing everyone to get home to their loved ones.
