Privatizing Road Care in Saskatchewan

A publicly run department like Saskatchewan Transportation has Pros and Cons.

I question how many people want to hear how well Alberta’s roads are since they privatized the work being done on the roads in Alberta.

I already hear Saskatchewanites saying, “Oh dear Lord, here we go again. WE are not Alberta; WE do not WANT to BE Alberta.”

To that I say, “Alberta is one of a kind. No other province or state will ever compare to the beauty of Alberta; they have their ups and downs, but always bounce back.”

I know when someone new comes along and starts criticizing how things are done the hackles go up, defensiveness kicks in and bitterness is the reaction instead of thinking that maybe, just maybe this person has some good ideas that might come in handy.

Saskatchewan’s publicly run transportation department could definitely use some restructuring and positive advice on how to cope with the failing infrastructure.

Several problems I see, being newer to Saskatchewan, is the transportation workers are not willing to work for the taxpayers’ dollars they receive and the work being done is inferior and a waste of the taxes the people of Saskatchewan are paying.

You know that old saying, “Do the job right the first time.”

(One job that you can’t rely on that happening is writing…believe me.)

But road construction is something that the transportation department should be diligent in striving for doing it right the first time.

When you are driving through a construction zone with 1 flag person at each end leaning on vehicles holding a sign out and not paying much attention to anything, 2 construction workers working and 3 young workers in a “lead vehicle” with music blasting, THAT is a waste of taxpayer dollars.

When I worked for South Rock in Alberta, we got breaks…but not sitting in a vehicle blasting music leading cars back and forth through a construction zone in +30 weather. We were in white coveralls with hard hats, no vehicles around to stand against. We were there to do a job, not lean against a vehicle and have another lead cars through the zone.

Winters are a disastrous time to travel in Saskatchewan.

During the winter it is almost impossible on the Saskatchewan side when there is a storm to travel to Alberta and back. The Alberta side is the easy part. It’s in Saskatchewan you are white knuckling it on snow and ice.

My father works for Volker Stevin and I know that they are on call during the winter 24/7 even Christmas Day. He has been called out during the winter to work on the roads right after the storm has dissipated enough to see what he is doing, the storm is still happening during the middle of the night, it has just calmed enough for them to do their job. Unlike here.

Here in Saskatchewan, you could be waiting days for roads to be cleared of snow after a storm in some areas. I don’t mean just after major storms and when they do end up on the roads, some of the workers are not doing their jobs safely. I have seen them driving while on cell phones, is that not against the law or are they like police officers and are allowed to talk on their phones while driving?

The plows only come out after the snow has completely stopped. I understand not throwing salt down before the snow has stopped, but plows are out getting the snow off the road in Alberta in case of emergencies, does that not make sense?

I have seen 4x4s in the ditches, people who thought they could make it to town to their jobs. Some may have been nurses or doctors. Some may have been just stupid idiots, but the point is these people would have been fine if the plows would have been out doing their jobs. The plows could have seen and done their jobs to keep the roads safe for these travelers.

I laughed at a story told to me of one lady who worked for the Saskatchewan Transportation department. She quit her job here and was hired in Alberta at Volker Stevin. After only working there for a short time she quit and came back to work for Saskatchewan Transportation department. Volker Stevin apparently made her work for her pay.

In Alberta when they are working on a section of highway they will tear up one side of the highway for only a portion of the road, the other half will stay paved and there will be flag people at either end directing traffic, before doing the other side of the road. Then they move further down the road.

When the Saskatchewan Transportation department leaves long stretches of a road to dirt, not Grid…dirt, that is irresponsible.

If you are traveling East on the #31 in Saskatchewan you will find that the Transportation department has come along and ripped up an entire section of road. Both sides of the road have been left as dirt now for several weeks; the wet weather has probably slowed the construction down, for about 3 kilometers. The #31 has needed repair, but I hope that it is not one of the roads they are planning on turning into a super grid.

The problem is many vehicles in this area would not make it down this road because of the wet weather but they need to use this road. Had the transportation department used the construction technique I described earlier they may not have gotten all of it accomplished as of yet, but none of it would have been a mud bog for cars to be caught in.

This area is booming of late with oil, the traffic on the #31 is busier than 5 years ago. So the road construction is going to be dealt with, but I feel for those who have the most dangerous roads in Saskatchewan. They are going without the attention they need because the roads that oil companies use have to be up to snuff. That is sad.

Personally, if the oil companies are so bound and determined to get the oil out of the ground, should that not be a part of what royalties are used for? Maintaining the infrastructure that is being used by these companies? I don’t know, I’m just a lowly pee-on…

Many of Saskatchewan’s grid roads are better taken care of by R.M.s, but turning paved roads back into super grids and making them the responsibility of R.Ms is not feasible and would be irresponsible of the Saskatchewan government.

Another issue is the signage.

I will say not one of my cracks or chips were from grid roads. The drivers are respectful on the grids, but when it comes to black top, anything goes.

Without enforcement, meaning RCMP, telling people to “slow down loose stones” is a mute point especially farmers in semis who are trying to get their product to market before their neighbor.

As much respect as I have for truck drivers (having my son, father and other family members in that career), I have very little for the farmers in their semis full of their cargo who think flying down highways with signs saying “loose stones” is okay because they have to get their grain to the train before the next farmer.

Within 5 minutes of my trip down the #51 heading East two grain semis went by me. One heading West the other East.

I have become rigid about following the speed limit here in Saskatchewan and slowing down when it comes to roads that are a disaster, especially when my daughter is traveling with me. 

  

The West bound semi was the first to pass and as I had already slowed down to 80k/h (posting is 90k/h) I started to slow even more since the road is so narrow. However, this farm semi did not slow down at all and because of that my daughter had the crap scared out of her when a rock cracked the windshield right in front of her on the passenger’s side. That rock flew across the road to her side of the car.

The next crack happened because an idiot farmer in his semi decided that because I was not speeding he needed to pass me. His mud flaps were not up to speed, but he was…he was driving way too fast for me to catch any type of license plate and I wasn’t about to put my daughter or myself in danger to try and get the plate number, then again what difference would it have made, farmers have the right-of-way in Saskatchewan, don’t they?...I know, I am ranting...not all farmers are this irresponsible.

Where a sign says “Slow, Loose Stones” does that not mean SLOW DOWN?

It isn't just about the money to replace the windshield of the person you just scared the shit out of people, it is about saving lives.

If that rock had spit up into my line of site at the wrong time and we would have been on the side of a hill, what could have happened?

Even an experienced driver could have had an accident and it would not have been blamed on the driver of the truck. Because how would you have been able to tell a rock cracked my windshield before I went over the hill if I and my daughter did not survive?

You wouldn’t, no one would be alive to say, “That jackass was speeding and spitting up rocks that smashed my windshield which made me lose control of my vehicle and I went over the hill.” 

On top of that, would the truck driver have even bothered to stop?

Lastly, when you fill the pot holes with asphalt and leave it for the local traffic to pack down all you get is another hole and chunks of asphalt that can and will fly up at the wrong time.

When the Saskatchewan Transportation department thinks they are “helping” by throwing some cold asphalt into a hole and allowing the locals to pack it in all they are doing is wasting more of the taxes you, Saskatchewanites, are paying every year.

The cold pack and even the warm asphalt, does not adhere if it is not packed properly. So when you see them drive along throwing black “stuff” into the hole and do not use some sort of packing device, they are wasting your taxes by doing a lazy job.

The Transportation Department still exists in Alberta. They just do not do the “grunt” work.

Companies like Volker Stevin, South Rock Ltd., etc. bid on the work that needs to be done on the roads in Alberta. These companies know that if they do not do the best job, they will not have jobs when the contract comes up for renewal or when another contract comes up, they won’t get the job.

Volker Stevin has the contract to take care of the roads in Alberta as far as up-keep. They make sure that the roads are clear of debris (blown tires, animal carcasses etc) they clear them after snow storms, and they clear the ditches of the garbage inconsiderate idiots throw out their windows or off the backs of their pickups and much, much more. These workers WORK for the wage they are paid.

I am not an expert, but with the little experience I had working for South Rock I cringe driving on your highways when I have to travel on any in Saskatchewan and I know you do too because I hear you complain as well.

Demanding better services from your politicians, from your service providers, for the taxes you pay is not against the law it is your right. Waiting for another 5, 10, 20 years for your transportation department to get control of its workers is unacceptable.

Privatizing the transportation department and allowing private companies to pave and care for your highways would save lives and save your tax dollars, because in the end they end up doing the job the right way the first time, not waste time doing it over and over…and over.