Okanagan routes hit top spots in worst roads survey

OKANAGAN – The Okanagan has some of the worst roads in the province.

That’s the message voters in BCAA’s Worst Roads survey are sending this year. Silver Star Road in Vernon hit first, Westside Road near Attenborough Road second, and Cosens Bay Road in Coldstream third. Two other portions of Westside Road in West Kelowna and Vernon also made the list. 

The main problems voters had with Silver Star and Westside Roads were potholes and crumbling pavement, while Cosens Bay Road was chosen based on pedestrian and cycling safety.

The public identified a record 1,277 problem roadways in this round of voting.

"Votes tripled this year. This says to me that British Columbians want a way to express their road frustrations and appreciate the opportunity to have their say," BCAA's associate vice president of Road Assist Ken Cousin says.

In the coming weeks, BCAA will share the complete survey results with municipalities, the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, and other road authorities to encourage improvements.

"It's about safety and helping people to raise awareness of problem roads. We all play a role in being safe on our roads. For drivers, pedestrians or cyclists, it's about being mindful, following the rules of the road and watching your behaviour."

Roads in Maple Ridge, Victoria, RIchmond and the Malahat also made the list.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724