Photo: www.quesnelobserver.com

VICTORIA – As the impacts of the spring freshet continue to have a devastating effect on roads in rural B.C., the BC Liberals are calling on the NDP government to take immediate action and provide the resources needed to repair and rebuild roads and ensure the safety of residents.

“This spring we have seen roads and highways throughout the Interior impacted by landslides and washouts, at a level we haven’t seen in years,” said Michael Lee, BC Liberal Critic for Transportation, Infrastructure and TransLink. “Despite the urgency of the situation, there has been little response from the NDP government to intervene and provide the area with the resources needed to repair and maintain these vital transportation networks. This situation is dire and we need to see government step up and come to the aid of impacted communities.”

Over the last few months many roads in the Cariboo and Fraser-Nicola regions have collapsed and crumbled, blocking the movement of people and goods and significantly threatening public safety.

“This is an urgent issue in communities throughout my riding, one that impacts the daily lives of thousands of people,” said Coralee Oakes, MLA for Cariboo North. “We need government to acknowledge the need to restore our road network to a standard where people can safely go about their daily lives.”

“People shouldn’t have to worry about the condition or safety of the roads they depend on, and the NDP needs to step in and make sure that roads are being properly maintained and swiftly repaired,” said Lorne Doerkson, MLA for Cariboo-Chilcotin. “The impacts of landslides and washouts can be seen throughout the Interior, affecting major arteries like Highway 20 as well as small rural roads.”

“When vital roadways are impassable, it puts significant strain on the communities that depend on them, limiting the movement of goods and services, threatening public safety, and impacting food security,” said Jackie Tegart, MLA for Fraser Nicola. “We are calling on government to immediately address this issue, for the safety and well-being of so many B.C. communities.”

Yesterday, Lee and several B.C. Liberal caucus colleagues representing the Cariboo and Fraser-Nicola regions sent a letter to Transportation Minister Rob Fleming calling for immediate government action.