Residents in two communities in southwestern Manitoba are expressing frustration over hazardous driving conditions on a local highway due to extensive damage and missing sections of pavement.
Highway 41, situated in the rural municipality of Ellice-Archie northwest of Brandon, connects McAuley, St-Lazare, and Binscarth, running from the Trans-Canada Highway to the Yellowhead Highway. Ellice-Archie Reeve Barry Lowes described the road as extremely perilous, recounting an incident where he damaged a rim on his truck near McAuley while driving to his granddaughter’s high school graduation in June.
Lowes highlighted that the highway’s deteriorating condition has been an ongoing issue for over a decade, originating from flooding events in 2011 and 2014 that submerged sections of the road. Despite the longstanding problem, the highway remains in disrepair and continues to be utilized by farmers, truckers, and campers.
The road is plagued by numerous potholes of varying sizes, with gaping holes disrupting the center line and chunks missing from the shoulders, marked by pink and white paint. A particularly concerning section about 15 kilometers south of McAuley exhibits broken pavement and holes in both lanes, prompting warnings for drivers to slow down. However, some motorists opt to maneuver around the holes onto the gravel shoulders, further deteriorating the road.
Lowes has persistently urged the government to repave the highway, expressing dissatisfaction with the lack of concrete solutions following discussions with Manitoba Transportation Minister Lisa Naylor. Maintenance crews are currently engaged in patching up sections of the highway, with Naylor indicating that significant repair work is scheduled to commence in the coming weeks to address urgent safety concerns and planned repairs.
In St-Lazare, business owner Dolores Fouillard voiced concerns over the temporary fixes applied to the road, advocating for a comprehensive overhaul rather than quick-fix solutions. With increased traffic flow, including commuters heading to a nearby potash mine in Rocanville, Saskatchewan, Fouillard stressed the urgency of addressing the road’s hazardous conditions.
Amid worries about the impending school year and the safety of school bus passengers, Fouillard emphasized the critical need for substantial improvements to accommodate the high volume of traffic, including commercial vehicles, contractors, and farmers traversing the highway.