Dear Editor,
This letter is in regards to the maintenance contract on the Alaska Highway. I’m not sure what the policy is on road maintenance in this province, but our winters in the Peace area extend well beyond the Oct.15-April 15 time frame that is in place here. A month added on to each end of that would not be unreasonable. Spring and Fall are also the most treacherous of driving conditions with the temperatures hovering around zero causing melting and freezing. Adding to that the fact that there are no passing lanes from Fort St. John north, we have a very serious situation here. I’m sure ICBC is well aware of how many accidents we’ve had in the last couple of weeks. How anyone can find this a satisfactory situation is beyond me.
The oil and gas industry is a major part of the provincial economy and the Alaska Highway is the major thoroughfare for transportation of goods and services to that industry. Those of us who live and work in this area deserve a higher level of safety and service than what we are getting. Why don’t we have a more adequate contract? Why aren’t the trucks out plowing and sanding the roads BEFORE the traffic is on them in the morning? Let’s raise the bar a little, people and get some acceptable standards in place here before too many more are killed on this highway.
Evelyn Baker
Wonowon, B.C.
