A lack of signage is making N WT highways unsafe, says the husband of a motorcyclist who was seriously injured after crashing her bike on Highway 3 outside of Fort Providence on Tuesday.
The Victory Bikers from High River, Alta., were travelling to the territory for the summer solstice.
Motorists coming from Behchoko to Yellowknife are forced to drive into the other lane to avoid damaging their vehicles on large potholes along Highway 3.
(June 20, 2018)
After leaving their hotel in Fort Providence the group hit a patch of loose gravel which was not identified by a road sign.
SA国际影视传媒淚t's the same as riding on marbles,SA国际影视传媒� said Bruce Webber, one of the riders. SA国际影视传媒淢y wife was riding in front of me when I saw the tail of her bike start to swerve in and out.SA国际影视传媒�
Webber asked for his wife not to be named in the article to due privacy concerns.
Because there was no sign indicating loose gravel Webber said the group maintained highway speeds, that's when his wife crashed her bike, resulting in serious injuries.
SA国际影视传媒淪he has some cracked ribs, a ruptured spleen a deflated lung and a broken shoulder,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
Since there was no cell-service Webber said the group waited three hours for an ambulance to arrive from Behchoko to pick up his wife.
Webber said his wife is currently in hospital and may be flown to Edmonton for further treatment but is expected to recover from her injuries.
The concern about a lack of signage was echoed by Alan Shevknek, who once worked for the GNWT's Department of Public Works.
Construction crews are currently working in sections to restore areas of the highway.
Along the highway are red warning signs indicating bumps in the pavement but there are no signs along the road to indicate where major potholes exist.
SA国际影视传媒淚'm thinking of people from Yellowknife who are going out with their big trailers and there is no way to avoid these big potholes,SA国际影视传媒� said Shevkenek. SA国际影视传媒淚 think it's the design of the pavement mixed with the weather but normally in the spring time they all come out.SA国际影视传媒�
NWT roadways have also sparked safety concerns among transport trucking companies who frequent the area, sometimes on a daily basis.
Dickson's Trucking owner Ron Dickson said he returned to Yellowknife after driving on the highway early Wednesday morning and his fillings were still rattling.
SA国际影视传媒淚t's a disaster out there, some blame it on the spring thaw but you'd think the GNWT would have enough money to fix these troubled spots,SA国际影视传媒� said Dickson. SA国际影视传媒淚t does damage to our freights, one good bump and it could knock a spring loose.SA国际影视传媒�
Speed limits have been reduced from 100 km/hr to 85 km/hr in order to compensate for the potholes and provide safety for construction workers.
However, the people who should most be concerned for their safety are the tourists coming into the city, said Dickson.
SA国际影视传媒淭ourists make one trip across that road and they'll never be back,SA国际影视传媒� he added.
Multiple potholes the size of four footballs on Highway 3 are making the commute from Behchoko to Yellowknife tough for residents. The GNWT has invested $46.4 million to fixing road conditions in the territory, this summer.
(June 20, 2018)
The Department of Infrastructure announced in May that it planned to invest $46.4 million to infrastructure projects for this fiscal year which includes chip-sealing 84 kilometres of Highway 3 and improving drainage at various locations.
When asked to comment GNWT spokesperson Greg Hanna directed Yellowknifer to their website for more info.
"Renovations will be done collectively to 200 kilometres of highway including three community access roads and three bridges," stated the GNWT website.
