By Lana Meier with files from Patricia Barrett
The deteriorating condition of provincial roads in the Lakeside constituency is raising serious concerns about safety, accessibility and economic impact, says Lakeside MLA Trevor King.
King told the legislature earlier this month that residents have been “raising the alarm” for months about the state of several key routes, including Provincial Roads 323 and 220. Both are vital transportation links for farmers, businesses and families in the region, he said, yet have become almost impassable after rainfall.
“PRs 323 and 220 are key routes for hauling grain, delivering supplies and getting kids to school. Yet they remain in such poor shape that even basic travel is becoming dangerous,” said King. “These roads are key routes for hauling grain, delivering supplies and getting kids to school. Yet they remain in such poor shape that even basic travel is becoming dangerous.”
King said the roads are plagued by deep ruts, soft shoulders, standing water and washouts that appear faster than they can be repaired. The conditions affect not only local commerce but also emergency services, school transportation and workers commuting to nearby Hutterite colonies.
“The roads are the veins of rural Manitoba and vital connectors between communities, farms and businesses,” King said. “Yet, despite how important they are, these roads are falling apart while this government looks the other way.”
In his Oct. 8 grievance, King listed “most” of the provincial roads in his riding that require attention, including PRs 321, 424, 334, 332, 322, 518, 427, 227 and 241. He emphasized that the problem is not with the provincial maintenance crews but with leadership at the ministerial level.
“It is with the priorities and leadership at the ministerial level,” he said. “All of these roads lack material to maintain them properly, to withstand any amount of rain or spring thaw.”
King tabled photos in the legislature showing extensive rutting and pooling water after a recent rainfall, and questioned Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor about why “critical provincial roads” have been allowed to deteriorate throughout Lakeside and the rest of Manitoba.
Naylor responded that the poor conditions stem from years of neglect under the previous Progressive Conservative government.
“If members opposite think that these roads have fallen into disrepair over one year or two years, they are sorely mistaken,” she said during question period. “This is the result of years of neglect by members opposite.”
Naylor added that the government is “fully focused” on infrastructure renewal and pointed to new rural investments announced earlier this summer.
Well-maintained roads are essential to Manitoba’s rural economy, King said, enabling the movement of agricultural products, goods and services that sustain small towns and local industries. “Without reliable infrastructure,” he added, “rural Manitoba simply can’t move forward.”
