Residents in two communities in southwestern Manitoba are expressing frustration over dangerous road conditions on Highway 41. The highway, located in the rural municipality of Ellice-Archie northwest of Brandon, connects McAuley, St-Lazare, and Binscarth, stretching from the Trans-Canada Highway to the Yellowhead Highway.
Barry Lowes, the Reeve of Ellice-Archie, highlighted the hazardous nature of the highway, sharing his personal experience of damaging a rim on his truck near McAuley while en route to his granddaughter’s graduation. The issue dates back a decade, with flooding in 2011 and 2014 causing significant damage to sections of the highway.
Despite the longstanding problem, the highway continues to be heavily used by farmers, truckers, and campers. Lowes emphasized the extensive disrepair along the highway, with numerous potholes and missing pavement sections, some marked with pink and white paint. He noted a particularly damaged section about 15 kilometers south of McAuley, where warning signs urge drivers to slow down, although many opt to navigate around the holes, further deteriorating the road.
Lowes has persistently urged the government to address the road’s condition, having raised concerns with Manitoba Transportation Minister Lisa Naylor during her visit to the area. While maintenance crews are currently patching up the highway, Naylor assured that significant repair work is planned in the coming months.
In St-Lazare, business owner Dolores Fouillard echoed the call for comprehensive road repairs, expressing frustration over the makeshift solutions that have been implemented. She highlighted the increasing traffic on the highway, particularly due to the proximity to Rocanville, Saskatchewan, home to a potash mine employing many Manitobans who commute through St-Lazare.
Fouillard emphasized the urgency of the situation, especially with the upcoming school year and the safety of children commuting on school buses. She stressed the high volume of commercial traffic and the dangers posed by the deteriorating road conditions, underscoring the need for immediate action to prevent potential accidents.