It has been more than two months since Southern Labrador residents sent claims to the office of the opposition in St. John’s for damages on their vehicles caused by potholes between L’Anse au Clair and Red Bay, but there maybe a resolution in the making.
Transportation Minister Tom Hedderson spoke with the Northern Pen just before going to press.
Although he wouldn’t guarantee that anyone would get money, he confirmed that the claims had been received and were going through the system.
“There’s a process that we have to go through, we put it through to our officials, and there are some restrictions,” he said.
“There’s always road hazards, sometimes we get broken windshields and flat tires.”
On May 10, Forteau resident Dean Flynn was one of those who sent in a claim.
“Over $1500 of damage was done to my daughter’s car when she hit three potholes between Forteau and L’Anse au Loup,” he told the Pen.
“The largest pothole measured two and a half feet long by 14 inches wide and six inches deep.
“The roads were in a terrible state. They did eventually fix the roads, but they could’ve at least put markers out to warn people driving along Route 510.”
Mr. Flynn said a worker with the Department of Transportation and Works told him they couldn’t keep up with the work that needed to be done on the roads because the roads were built 30-odd years ago and the pavement was so bad.
The roads between L’Anse au Clair to Red Bay, from Red Bay to Lodge Bay, and from Lodge Bay to Cartwright and onward to Goose Bay, are usually the main conversation among travellers when they reach the MV Apollo ferry dock in Blanc Sablon before crossing to Newfoundland.
Last week, three workers from Central Newfoundland who travelled to Goose Bay to deliver and plant trees said they’d busted two tires on their way to Goose Bay and one more on the way back.
“The gravel roads are terrible,” they said.
“It’s a wonder not more people are killed. We nearly went in the ditch ourselves on our way back.”
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