Highway 44 named worst road in Saskatchewan in CAA poll

No. 44 is No. 1.

Highway 44 near Eston has claimed the title as the worst road in Saskatchewan in CAA’s 2023 Worst Roads campaign.

Between April 4 and Tuesday, pedestrians, drivers, cyclists, transit riders and motorcyclists were allowed to nominate and vote for the worst roads in the province.

Criteria to make the list usually includes crumbling pavement, potholes, lack of maintenance or repair, congestion, not enough signage, and poor infrastructure.

In a media release Wednesday, CAA said 292 Saskatchewan roads were nominated this year. The top 10 comprises:

1. Highway 44 at Eston. Major problem: Potholes;
2. Highway 30 at Eston. Major problem: Potholes;
3. Coteau Street West in Moose Jaw. Major problem: Potholes;
4. Highway 13 at Redvers. Major problem: Potholes;
5. Highway 5 at Buchanan. Major problem: Poor road maintenance;
6. Butte Street in Pilot Butte. Major problem: Potholes;
7. Highway 9 at Whitewood. Major problem: Potholes;
8. Highway 123 in the area of Petaigan/Ravendale/Pemmican Portage. Major problem: Potholes;
9. Highway 9 at Hudson Bay. Major problem: Potholes; and
10. Old Highway 35 at White Fox. Major problem: Potholes.

Highway 9 is a repeat offender; it was ranked third in both the 2022 and 2021 polls and was fifth in 2018. Highway 5 at Buchanan finished fifth in last year’s voting.

Some of the nominees that didn’t make the top 10 have appeared in the poll before, including Highway 47 at Springside (which was second in both 2018 and 2022) and Ninth Avenue Southwest in Moose Jaw (No. 10 in 2022 and in 2018).

New candidates this year included Regina’s Connaught Street, Weyburn’s First Avenue Northeast and Wanuskewin Road in Saskatoon.

“The collection of roads nominated and voted (for) during this year’s campaign does indicate that Saskatchewan road users are concerned about their safety while travelling on our roads and highways,” the CAA release said.

The association said weather conditions, age of the roads, heavy traffic, and lack of maintenance can cause road deterioration. The freeze-thaw cycle Saskatchewan experiences every winter helps create potholes which, based on the results of the voting, is the main issue among the top 10.

CAA noted the list will be sent to government and business leaders “in hopes of sparking conversation and action.”