I have lived in the area for more than 30 years and have considered the road to Mabel Lake Resort a great cruise road either on my motorcycle or my sport car. I have noticed progressive road disrepair over the last few years. I decided to take a cruise out to the Mabel Lake Resort over the long weekend, stopping in for lunch at the resort clubhouse.
Once I got a few kilometres out of Enderby, the road became a nightmare with its deep potholes, broken asphalt, torn shoulders and, in one stretch, one-way traffic with traffic control people in place. I spoke with the friendly woman at the control point and she laughed when I mentioned the state of disrepair of the road, saying that many people have stopped and complained about the condition of the road.
Of course this time of year, being summer vacation time, I was battling for room on my lane of the road with the huge number of travel trailers and motorhomes going both ways.
Many of these vehicles had to travel on to the shoulder to give room for oncoming vehicles, throwing up gravel and dust.
Mabel Lake Resort is now quite well developed with high-end homes and cottages, most lived in year round. I wondered why this road was left to deteriorate to its present state and assumed that those who live at and visit this resort surely must have complained about the horrible condition of the road.
When I departed Mabel Lake and headed back to town, I was following a motorcycle with a female passenger. We were driving under the speed limit due to road condition and as we turned at a curve, I saw the motorcycle hit a pothole and go into a wobble as the operator fought to control the bike from going out of control off the road.
I wonder how many vehicle had been damaged travelling this road or forced off the road in a motor vehicle accident due to the condition of this road, which is by far one of the worst roads I have travelled on this year.
I am left to wonder why this road has been more or less abandoned and allowed to get to the dangerous condition it is in? I cannot be the only person who has complained about the road and why it sits in disrepair, worsening with time.
Now if it was a remote road with little use I could force myself to understand its low priority for repairs, or should I say rebuild.
Like most of my fellow motorists who are long-time taxpayers who enjoy this beautiful part of B.C., I cannot help but remark on the lack of care and attention being placed on our secondary roads which really show off our beautiful province. No doubt those tourists who come to B.C. over summer holidays must think our province has gone bankrupt.
In reality, any hint of intelligence would put this whole problem exactly where it belong, and that is on all forms of government. I have to wonder where our fuel tax money is going? What ever happened to beautiful B.C.?
Len Eddy
Armstrong