Richmond ‘trending’ as one of province’s worst roads

Brandon’s Richmond Avenue has ranked in the top 10 worst roads of Manitoba for the third straight year.

The road was deemed fifth worst on Thursday in the Canadian Automobile Association’s annual campaign, which receives nominations from Manitoba residents.

Potholes, poor road maintenance, uneven road surfaces, crumbling curbs and no or poor cycling infrastructure were listed as the most common complaints, CAA spokesperson Ewald Friesen told the Sun.

Richmond Avenue tied for 10th worst in the 2024 CAA campaign and finished ninth last year.

The growing discontent around Richmond Avenue may be good for Brandon in the end, Friesen said.

“It’s trending,” he said. “Many times when these roads increase in profile … governments respond by reprioritizing their repair, and so I would say that the context is that it’s a very encouraging sign.

“I think it’s a powerful indication that it will reach the attention of decision makers and our elected represenatives.”

Friesen noted that the province launched repairs on 18th Street in Brandon in the fall of 2024 following the street ranking as CAA’s worst in Manitoba earlier that year.

Friesen said his organization researched Richmond Avenue to see if any provincial investment was planned, and found there was none.

According to the City of Brandon website, the province is responsible for repairs on Richmond Avenue east of 18th Street. The easterly part contains all the most troublesome intersections that participants complained about in this year’s CAA survey: First, Third, Ninth and 13th streets.

First Street in Brandon also made the top 10 worst roads list this year, appearing in eighth place and for the first time since the campaign started 15 years ago.

The list of concerns with First Street was the same as Richmond Avenue, with the most complained-about intersections being at Victoria, Richmond, Pacific and Lorne avenues.

CAA noted there are no upcoming provincial projects on First Street.

Thousands of Manitobans submitted worst-road nominations in this year’s campaign, with 711 different roads included in 69 different municipalities.

Ranking in the top spot this year was Provincial Trunk Highway 34 in the Pembina Valley and Central Plains region. The road’s worst portions were located in the stretch that runs from the Trans-Canada Highway to the border with the United States.

The road ranked on the list seven times in the past and has now claimed top spot twice in a row. Potholes, poor maintenance and uneven road surfaces were listed as the main problems.

According to the association’s survey of members this year, 92 per cent are concerned with roads in the province, 82 per cent believe roads are not repaired in a timely fashion and nearly half say the situation has become worse.

» cmcdowell@brandonsun.com