I thought I would never be one of those who complain about potholes and snow removal as if the city could actually do something about the weather. This is the North. It snows and freezes. If you don't like it move to Sechelt and buy a sun lamp and a rain suit. When I saw in Saturday's special report that the city is contemplating their own asphalt plant the gloves have to come off. Observing how the city's finest struggle with other ordinary services like garbage and street sweeping to name a couple it is inconceivable that we would consider internalizing a task that is even more challenging.
Brian Skakun's question "why have these roads have failed to the degree that they have in such a short time" is a good one but his suggested solution is not. The city cannot effectively compete with the private sector - period. As a reliable customer the city has always had a cozy relationship with the asphalt industry often to the chagrin to those who live with the results of in camera decisions that affect resident's quality of life. But, to have the city as the industry - God help us!
The problem with the roads in the city is that they are under built. One has only to drive to the edge of town to see highways that carry all sorts of heavy traffic year around and don't have anywhere near the same issues with potholes. You get what you pay for and by scrimping of main arterial roads in the city we get dangerous potholes and ineffective patching as a regular occurrence. Changing the paint on the asphalt plant will not remedy this - trust me it would only get worse. Building roads to an adequate standard will, and yes it will cost more up front but perhaps not in the longer term. An analogy is buying a General Bullmoose vehicle with built in three year (post warranty) obsolescence or an engineered Japanese/German vehicle that you can drive for a decade. They cost you the same in the end but the ride is a lot better.
Jim Burbee
Prince George
