The Worst Roads: 10 years on, is it worse than worse?
Ten years and over 80,000 votes since the launch of our first campaign to rank the worst roads in Quebec, the question arises. This is especially true this year, as potholes, holes and cracks are back in force after a winter that left its mark. The timing is perfect, then, for CAA-Quebec to kick off its Worst Roads campaign. It’s time for Quebecers to make their voices heard.
Road users throughout Quebec have until April 23 to let us know which roads are in the worst condition, whether due to poor signage, neglected maintenance and markings, or even shoddy sidewalks. CAA-Quebec will then produce its now-famous ranking of the Worst Roads and pursue its objective of raising awareness of road infrastructure maintenance among cities and the Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable.
“Quebecers have the right to expect a reliable, high-quality, and above all safe road network. Every year, our campaign helps spread the word about road infrastructure in a constructive way, bringing the voice of citizens to the fore, one road at a time.”
- Nicolas Ryan, Director, Public Affairs
Roads, the great neglects
The latest provincial budget revealed that, of all the infrastructures under the responsibility of the Quebec government, roads suffer from the largest asset maintenance deficit (AMD). According to the Québec Infrastructure Plan (QIP), the road network’s AMD accounts for 56% of the province’s total public infrastructure AMD, totalling 22.5 billion dollars. According to the same source, 48% of pavements under the responsibility of the Ministère des Transports are in poor or very poor condition, and 42% of structures on the higher network are also in poor or very poor condition.
The Worst Roads have an impact!
CAA-Quebec’s annual campaign always creates a stir, yet since its launch it has achieved significant results. A number of roads that (unfortunately) make the list attract the authorities’ attention, and are being upgraded, repaired or, better still, completely revamped in favour of all road users. In recent years, Chemin Klock in Gatineau, Chemin Édouard-Roy in Sherbrooke, Boulevard Gouin in Montréal, Chemin Craig in Lévis, and Traverse de Laval in Lac-Beauport alone have seen several million dollars worth of investment.
What is the cost of driving over a pothole?
Damage to your vehicle due to a pothole can be very costly. In fact, for a bill of less than $1000, CAA-Quebec recommends not contacting your insurer. The potential increase in premium and the note on your file that could result are simply not worth it. Here’s a list of the most frequently damaged parts and their replacement cost, to which you naturally have to add labour:
Tire: $150 to $350
Steel wheel: $100
Alloy wheel: $600
Control arm: $200 to $400
Tie rod end: $100 to $250
Shock absorber: $200 to $400
Strut: $200 to $400
Ball joint: $150 to $300
Parallelism (alignment): $100 to $200
About CAA-Quebec
CAA-Quebec offers a wide range of assistance services in a wide variety of sectors, drawing on a human approach. As a socially committed organization, CAA-Quebec strives on a daily basis to protect the interests of its members. And in keeping with its values of reliability and benevolence, it fosters responsible consumption and promotes road safety.