The condition of roads in Wandering River has raised questions about whether Athabasca County is doing enough to ensure the hamlet’s residents don’t have to keep dodging potholes near the Petro-Canada station.
Some roads are paved, and some are graveled, but many roads around the gas station have large potholes that one resident has been expressing concern to the county about for more than a year.
“The paved areas are in a better (condition) than the main street, where there is so much more traffic. It may not have all been caused by the amount of water (pooling), but it’s by not being kept up,” said Wandering River resident Vivian Aubee, who said the roads have been in the same condition for at least five years.
She said the potholes are very deep, and when there is water in them, it’s hard to tell just how deep they are until you hit them with your vehicle.
Aubee said she has spoken with Athabasca County councillor Jack Dowhaluk (who represents the Wandering River area). She said she was told by Dowhaluk that he was trying to do whatever he could, and she said she believes him, but that county administration has not been acting on her concerns.
“As for Jack (Dowhaluk), I think he’s been trying, but to be successful — he hasn’t been,” said Aubee.
She said she spoke with Athabasca County manager Gary Buchanan about six weeks ago and claims Buchanan told her he would be sending someone to take a look at the roads.
However, no change or repair to the roads has been done.
Dowhaluk confirmed he spoke with Aubee and acknowledged the poor conditions of the roads. He also said, despite five years of waiting, his constituents need to have more patience with the system, which he says will deliver “soon.”
“They require constant repair, and people are just getting impatient up there for it to be paved,” said Dowhaluk.
“It’s been a long time coming, and the holes aren’t getting any better, and personally I feel they require immediate attention.”
Dowhaluk said council “has been informed numerous times” of the condition of the roads, but that administration also has a role to play in issuing work orders.
Athabasca County director of infrastructure services Brian Adamkewicz was unavailable for comment, but county communication coordinator Karl Kopan confirmed an upcoming tender will be issued “for the repair of two sections of 1st Street in Wandering River.”
Specifically, 1st Street between 2nd Street and 1st Avenue will receive a pavement overlay. Design work is also underway for base paving on 1st Street between 1st Avenue and Township Road 720.
“Athabasca County is proposing a cost-sharing arrangement for this work with Alberta Transportation to include it in the upcoming tender for the twinning of Highway 63 near Wandering River,” said Kopan.
“This means 1st Street within Wandering River will be fully repaired and paved in 2014,” stated Kopan.
“It’s a double-whammy in Wandering River. Because of the highway construction, people are frustrated with some of the approaches being eliminated, and the wet weather hasn’t really helped lately with some of the construction and the muddy roads,” said Dowhaluk.
“It’s been terrible for years, but with the funding, council feels there are other priorities. But it is a big concern, especially to me in my area,” said Dowhaluk.
“The streets in Wandering River are in desperate need of repair,” he said.
Dowhaluk also suggested the bad potholes in Wandering River could hurt local businesses because he said people tend not to want to drive in affected areas.
