MEDICINE HAT, AB – It’s the time of year when drivers are in for a bumpy ride.
Potholes are springing up all over Medicine Hat and CHAT News asked residents which roads they think are the worst.
A common thread was Box Springs Boulevard, which has garnered a reputation as one of the bumpiest roads in the city since 2007.
Contrary to popular belief however, the City of Medicine Hat isn’t tasked with fixing potholes and maintaining the street.
Over the last 11 years, the Box Springs Business Park has been responsible for any work relating to the road until development in the area nears completion.
Kent Snyder, General Manager of Planning and Development with the City, said it’s not an uncommon practice.
“They would maintain it for a certain period of time, and then we would inspect it and take it over,” said Snyder. “So, this is a standard development practice across Alberta, every Alberta community has the same process in place.”
According to the City, the road has passed all recent inspections and while bumpy, is up to their standard of being ‘safe and driveable.’
Box Springs Business Park Director John Hashem said all potholes were filled earlier in the week, but will have to wait for a more permanent solution.
“We’ve had some complaints that we’ve dealt with,” said Hashem. “But, basically what we’ve done now is we’ve done a temporary patch on the Box Springs Boulevard. And then, once the frost is out of the ground we’ll be able to go in and do a more permanent job.”
Still the road is an issue for many drivers, with some on the CHAT News Facebook page calling it a ‘hazardous nightmare’ and that ‘something drastic has to be done.’
Hashem said they are in talks with the City to smooth out one of the more problematic areas.
“Our goal is to get the final lift of asphalt on the first phase of the project around Costco and Kal-Tire, and around that area.”
According to Hashem, that would be one of the final steps before they’re ready to hand over responsibility to the City.
However, Snyder said there’s no timeline for that transfer yet.
“I think both of us would very much like to see developments closed out and finished up, but we need to have a successful local economy really driving that forward.”
The Box Springs Business Park is hoping to start work on the final layer of asphalt near Costco before the end of 2018.
