Worst Roads 2015 - CAA-Quebec provides its first review of investments made

QUEBEC CITY, Feb. 26, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - Of the 12 thoroughfares in the Worst Roads 2015 ranking, 10 have been, or will soon be, repaired. The municipalities concerned or the Quebec Transport Ministry have invested a total of $500 million on repairs, maintenance and safety design for all these roads.

Did the many reports submitted to CAA-Quebec's Worst Roads 2015 website accelerate matter? Let's take a closer look at the amounts invested to repair the five roads at the top of last year's list.

1. Chemin du Lac-Bécancour in Thetford Mines was extensively reconstructed over 2 km in 2015. Maintenance work is also planned for this year. Total investment by the municipality: $400,000.
2. Local elected officials are still debating Chemin Traverse de Laval in the Quebec City region.
3. The Quebec Transport Ministry invested $1.2 million in Boulevard Laure in Sept-Îles. That announcement was made… in the middle of the Worst Roads 2015 campaign!
4. On Chemin Kilmar in Grenville-sur-la-Rouge in the Outaouais region, two curves were redesigned and rebuilt. Additional work is planned for a total investment of $2.9 million by the municipality.
5. Several sections of Route 389 in the Fermont region are undergoing a wholesale analysis. The Quebec government will invest a total of $468 million.

Similarly, most of the roads identified in the 2015 rankings will be improved. That's good news for all users, particularly motorists, who remit more than $3.7 billion annually in various contributions to the government.

"In addition to providing a forum for all users of the road network, Worst Roads enables CAA-Quebec to communicate with the appropriate authorities to assess maintenance work performed on the sections of road in question," says Sophie Gagnon, Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs, CAA-Quebec. "In essence, we want everyone to benefit from safe roads in good condition. As an organization that represents 1.3 million drivers, CAA-Quebec fulfils its role as the intermediary with the government to ensure that the message gets through."

Potholes: $3 billion
In 2015, yearly costs due to potholes were estimated at $3 billion for drivers in the United States! That works out to an average of $300 per U.S. driver. "Neglecting road maintenance has significant financial consequences for all taxpayers," Ms. Gagnon adds. "A study published in Ontario a few years ago found that rebuilding a stretch of badly maintained road is 250 times more costly than doing preventive maintenance. Prevention remains the best solution for keeping costs down."

Maintaining the road network is a major issue for CAA-Quebec. Worst Roads gives voice to those who use the network… and fund it. For that reason, these investments must be made in the right places. "Users, the wait will be worth it," Ms. Gagnon says. "Worst Roads 2016 will soon be here! Stay tuned!"

About CAA-Quebec
CAA-Quebec, a not-for-profit organization, provides all of its members with peace of mind by offering them high-quality automotive, travel, residential and insurance benefits, products and services.

SOURCE CAA-Québec

Montreal: Anne-Sophie Hamel, Communications Advisor and Spokesperson, 514 861-7111, ext. 5478, Cell.: 514 717-4040, [email protected]; Quebec: Rébecca Salesse, Communications Advisor, 418 624-2424, ext. 6011, Cell. : 418 563-4590, [email protected]