Taken for granted or ignored … is this the Pontiac’s political fate?

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Highway 148 seems to make local headlines on a regular basis either through tragedy or disrepair. The road frankly is woefully inadequate with too few passing lanes, no parallel alternatives or detours, generally poor surfacing      and obviously questionable structural integrity.

Highway 148 seems to make local headlines on a regular basis either through tragedy or disrepair. The road frankly is woefully inadequate with too few passing lanes, no parallel alternatives or detours, generally poor surfacing      and obviously questionable structural integrity.
If one travels Highway 50 toward the Laurentians or Highway 30 toward the Eastern Townships, you realize that Quebec can build very nice roadways. Why has 148 languished for decades?
I have a cynical working theory: the PQ knows there is very little political gain for them in the region so when they are in power we are ignored. The Liberals know we are pretty well a guaranteed vote so we are taken for granted. You know which end of the stick we are left holding in either scenario!
Without any transportation alternatives, Highway 148 is a virtual lifeline for the working commuter and commercial shipping and supply. How is any form of Provincial Emergency Measures Plan supported on a failing highway? What would have been the outcome if a major accident had happened above the current sinkhole location, or a medical           emergency at the Shawville Hospital required transportation to Gatineau – do we even have evacuation helicopters?
We now have a term or two of Liberal government guiding the province. It’s time for André Fortin to step up to this challenge, and time for Pontiac residents to keep this as a burr under his saddle until his government acts. Talk and      platitudes cost little; a new 148 will cost a lot. Let’s stop the patchwork quilt        attitude and get on with the real job.
Tom Healey,
BRISTOL