Conche residents frustrated by crater-filled highway

Residents of a small community on the Northern Peninsula say they're fed up with driving over an unpaved, pothole-laden stretch of highway that despite funding from the provincial government, has not be fixed.

Conche Roadis a 20-kilometre stretch peppered with mud and craters, and it has already been voted one of the worst roads in Atlantic Canada by CAA.

Deputy MayorCharlene Kearneysaid driving over the roadis a nightmare.

"Even when the road is graded, we run into issues of large boulders left in the road, bedrock is exposed, people are complaining of cracked windshields and a lot of damage to their vehicles," Kearney said.

Tourism impact

For the 160 people who live in Conche, Route 434is the only way in or out. Then, there arethe thousands of people who visit or attempt to visit each year.

"I've actually seen people that come over here on top of the hill from Roddickton and when they realize it's a gravel road, they just turn around and go back," said Joan Simmonds, manager of the French Shore Interpretation Centre.

Since 2004, the provincial government has funneled $6-millionin the road, preparing it for pavement. However, the asphalt never showed up.

"Something needs to be done with the road," said Lori Morris, who commutes back and worth on the road.

"It's not acceptable the way it is. We're one of the few roads in Newfoundland that doesn't have any pavement on it. And this day and age, it's almost too silly to talk about that nothing's been done."

The Department of Transportation and Works saidit's responsible for over 10,000 kilometres of road throughout the province, and that's based on priority.