Vancouver Island MLA offers support for vehicles damaged by potholes
The MLA for Parksville-Qualicum is offering to provide guidance for motorists who had their tires and vehicles damaged recently by hitting potholes in the Nanoose flats area.
Adam Walker tells CTV News that motorists should contact his constituency office for assistance.
"We’re seeing the tow trucks on the side of the road, we’re hearing from people who have had damage to their vehicle, we’re helping them get the support they need to get compensated where possible," Walker says.
He says his office has been working closely with the Ministry of Transportation and is looking for a permanent fix when the weather will permit it.
"Crews are putting a cold-mix asphalt mix into the holes as they develop to try mitigate the situation," he says. "And the weather, unfortunately and obviously, is working against us in this but the crews are working around the clock to try to deal with the issue."
Dozens of motorists had one, two or even three of their tires damaged when they struck the holes along Highway 19 between Lantzville Road and Northwest Bay Road over several evenings this month.
Many vehicles were effected Tuesday evening and a tow truck driver was injured when his vehicle was sideswiped by a suspected impaired driver that was passing where the tow operator was assisting another motorist.
"As we drive between Parksville and Nanaimo we can see the tow trucks on the side of the road and we can see the crews working around the clock filling these holes as much as possible," said the MLA.
Walker says he understands the importance of the highway to people in the community given that it is the only connection between north and south Vancouver Island.
Even though some signs were posted near the beginning of the potholes, many motorists had been posting their complaints on social media about the lack of steps taken to highlight the potholes.
"It’s always easy for us to look back and second guess what people have done but we’ve seen some really unprecedented weather recently," says Walker. "The crews with Mainroad have been out there dealing with this as quickly as possible."
"The best thing in the area for someone who’s been impacted by the highway and these potholes is to reach out to our office and we will work with them to make sure we connect them with the right resources," he says.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.