It’s been a bumpy ride for some people in Nova Scotia’s Hants County, who are looking to repair what’s been named as one of Atlantic Canada’s worst roads.
Long-awaited repairs are underway for Nova Scotia Route 354, known as Beaver Bank Road, after years of protest from those who live in the area.
“It's just not safe. In the winter, these holes would be huge,” said Judy Young, who has lived at the end of the road for two years. “I would not drive my granddaughter up this road.”
Last month, the CAA released its shortlist of Atlantic Canada’s worst roads. The road's potholes and divots placed Route 354 on the infamous list.
“In many places, the edges are washed away totally, so you only have a half of a lane,” said Young. “What do you do, when you have a big 18-wheeler coming?”
Construction began on this road in May, but the stretch of road will be repaired in two stages – a project that will take more than a year.
Repairs are currently underway for an 11-kilometre stretch beginning at the Halifax county line, which leaves nearly 6.8 kilometres of rough-riding for residents who live past the mark, set at the McGrath Lake Subdivision in East Hants.
The remaining repairs are scheduled for next spring.
Margaret Miller, MLA for East Hants, says that the road repairs were scheduled for the first available plan, adding that while she understands the concern for many, the budget is limited.
In a statement, Nova Scotia’s Department of Transportation said that Beaver Bank Road repaving project comes with an estimated cost of $3.1 million.
“This is a full repaving, not patching or temporary maintenance. Typically, we plan paving in 6 kilometre sections. In effect, this is three year’s work being done in two seasons.”
However, those who have already waited years for repairs say each day brings another risk.
Audra Raulyns is spearheading a petition to have the remaining stretch of road fixed this summer.
“The disintegration, even just this spring, has been horrendous,” she said. “I'm concerned for our schoolbus drivers, who do drive down the centre of the road with their vehicle full to come into this subdivision to get children. Our postal workers who have no curb.”
She said her hope is to create a safer, shorter, and much more beautiful route for HRM and Hants County.
“We're asking and urging that they just move it up to this year. It's more than possible to be done by the road builders who are out and about on the roads right now.”
Raulyns and a number of concerned residents have organized a meeting at the Rawdon Firehall Saturday at 10 a.m., hoping to increase the pace of repairs so motorists can get up to speed.
With files from CTV’s Caitlin Andrea
