Editor:
Like many others involved in the forestry industry in our valley, over the last 40 years l’ve put many hours and many miles on our roads and highways.
I have hauled logs and equipment, and commuted to logging sites in all directions — Ashcroft, Kamloops, Kelowna, and Princeton.
Without exception, and in any direction, when entering another maintenance contractor’s area, the roads are maintained in a more timely manner, and to a higher standard.
To Jackie Tegart, Todd Stone, and VSA: we do need to drive safely and to the conditions, but you need to maintain to a standard in a timely manner that can be driven safely regardless of conditions — that’s the job.
There have been many complaints written, phoned, and verbalized to VSA, to our MLA and to the Minister of Transportation, to no avail. The response is always that the roads are fine, drive to the conditions.
The Ministry issued a “contractor of the year’ award to our roads maintenance contractor. Any prestige or credibility that was attached to the award is most certainly gone. Definitely the credibility of the office and people who monitor performance and choose the recipient is gone.
We deserve more for our tax dollars. We deserve safe highways.
To Jackie Tegart, Todd Stone, and VSA: we do need to drive safely and to the conditions, but you need to maintain to a standard in a timely manner that can be driven safely regardless of conditions — that’s the job.
To anyone else, if you want more and want to be heard, please sign the petition for improved and proactive winter maintenance, available in various locations in town.
Michael Wright
Merritt
