WEYBURN - One definitely can tell that spring is here ... by all the potholes in our streets!
In the past week I have seen our city crews out on several streets doing basic fill repairs. There are some streets that are going to need more serious attention than just the fill repairs.
The little divots in the pavement do create some concern when you are driving down those streets. One does their best to avoid them, but there are always times when the traffic does not allow for such manoeuvres.
The cliché saying that Saskatchewan has four seasons: winter, more winter, still winter and construction season is very true. As soon as the snow melts away, there are always construction duties that are needed on city streets and highways. It can be quite challenging to navigate, and it’s good time for street repairs too, especially with some of our residential areas where the street itself seems smaller because of the increased on-street parking in some areas.
Every year, around this time, the CAA releases the Top 10 worst roads to drive on. According to information on the CAA Saskatchewan website, Saskatchewan has over 228,000 km of roads, more than any other province. That’s a lot of roads to cover which is why the campaign exists.
While there were no roads in the immediate Weyburn area that made the Top 10 worst road list this year, I am sure that for many of us there are definitely roads we avoid driving on because of the divots and damage to the street.
It truly gets challenging when the road repairs are on a street located in a school zone (King Street, I am looking at you), and you have to be extra cautious while navigating down one of the main streets that leads out of town.
I applaud the fact that street parking is limited in the slow to 30-km zone of St. Michael School. This fact helps prevent a heavy flow of traffic before and after school, and their street seems to be in good condition because of that fact.
There is still street parking allowed beside the Weyburn Comp, the new Legacy Park (and trust me that slow to 30 km zone gets very busy in the mornings and after-schools), and Assiniboia Park Elementary School. Perhaps there are some good safety measures these others schools can consider, by evaluating what has worked for the staff and students at St. Michael School.
In the meantime, drive safe, watch out for those divots, and respect city workers.
