A lack of plowing and sanding.
That according to Quesnel City Councillor Shushil Thapar are the two reasons he is not surprised that Highway 97 between Quesnel and Prince George has made ICBC’s list of deadliest roads.
Thapar, who says he drives that stretch of Highway almost every day, says the highway is in pathetic condition.
And he says four-laning it isn’t the answer.
Thapar says the less contractors plow and the less they sand the more money goes into their pocket.
He says the Ministry of Transportation should be doing more audits to make sure that contractors are doing a good job.
Thapar says contractors should talk to the truckers about the roads.
ICBC’s stats show there were 27 fatal accidents on Highway 97 between Quesnel and Prince George from 2004 and 2013.
That is 5th in the province.
There were 19 fatalities on Highway 97 between Williams Lake and 100 Mile House over that time, 14 between Quesnel and Williams Lake, 11 between Cache Creek and 100 Mile and 6 within the City of Quesnel itself.
(Files from George Henderson)