Like the old joke goes, Canada has 4 seasons; winter, spring, fall, and road repair. Of course, that proves true again this year, but many Almaguin motorists are expressing concerns about the recently resurfaced Highway 520 between Burk’s Falls and Magnetawan. While the work was being done in July, we saw several people expressing safety concerns on social media. That included videos of dust so thick that it obstructed drivers’ ability to see.
Disturbingly, large potholes have already formed on resurfaced areas of the highway. Local resident Jim Percy provided us with these photographs:
705BLACKFLY.COM reached out to the Ministry of Transportation about the condition of Highway 520 and received the following response:
The safety of the people travelling on Ontario’s highways is a responsibility the ministry takes seriously.
The contract for surface treatment work on Highway 520 between Burk’s Falls and Magnetawan is ongoing and is currently expected to be complete within approximately 4-5 weeks.
Any potholes deemed to require immediate attention will be filled as soon as possible. The ministry will continue to monitor the work done on Highway 520 and ensure it remains in a safe and reliable condition for all users.
For information and updates on highway closures, construction, including lane closures, please visit www.Ontario.ca/511.
On Background:
If an individual’s vehicle sustains damage, they can submit detailed information in writing for consideration and investigation by the province online at http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/vehicles/submit-a-claim.shtml or via mail at the following address:
Ministry of Government and Consumer Services
Ontario Shared Services
Risk Management and Insurance Services Branch
222 Jarvis St. 7th Floor
Toronto, ON
M7A 0B6
Phone (416) 314-3445; Fax (416) 314-3444
Submitting a claim for damage does not imply that an individual will necessarily receive compensation, but the claim will be thoroughly reviewed, and a response will be provided.
We contacted the MTO on August 10th and they responded immediately to our concerns. We were told by a local resident that crews are already at work repairing the potholes.
We also took to social media to ask YOU what you thought of the repairs on Highway 520 – and our readers had a lot to say!. We chose to publish first names only.
Terri: This road is worse than it was to begin with. During construction we had to stay inside at times the dust was so bad. If this disaster is a completed project I am complaining to the town and MTO!
Darrien: The whole thing is pot holes again which are worse this time!!! They wasted a bunch of tax dollars! So, when my bearings need redoing do I send the bill to the township or to MTO??? Absolute joke.
Sandra: The repairs were no big deal. I’m grateful the multiple pot holes are fixed. The repair was worth the minor inconvenience.
Sharon: The Potholes are way worse now and deep. What a terrible job, Tar must be the thickness of an Onion Skin. Hope they will come back and fix them. Someone has spray Painted all the Potholes with Pink Neon Paint.
Kim: …Yes they have !!! It’s terrible. I got a stone chip tues eve coming home from work. From an oncoming vehicle!!!
Rhianon: Took it from Midlothian to Burk’s falls two days ago. Was excited as I was approaching to see that it was done. Then saw all the massive potholes! What a waste of time and money!
Kim: Pot holes already I have a Crack in my windshield from driving down the 520 when they were working on the road which I was impressed about.
Cheri: Traffic control was deadly during the work process. Road seems to have a lot of pot holes already.
Ruth: The highway is full of pot holes already. Waste of time and money. The entrance to the highway from side roads are all washboard. Sub standard for a highway. Imagine what it will be like when we get snow.
Ellie: It is a shame that the government allowed chip and tar to be done. Why should we have to suffer through this process every 5 years (if it lasts that long) it doesn’t belong on any highway.
Jeannette: The part that was done last year is already in poor shape. The process they use is dangerous for such a heavily travelled road. The dust cloud reduced visibility to zero after a group of about 5 cars passed me going in the opposite direction. And we were all going slow. Less heavily travelled roads further south have better quality paving. It’s a disgrace.
Chad: Considering there are now several sections falling apart and in worse shape than before the resurfacing started, it is a complete waste. It should be paved properly like the 124.
Joanne: It’s like Swiss Cheese already in spots that were just resurfaced. There’s a place for chip & seal, but not on a road so heavily traveled and with so much truck traffic.
Patti: I drove 520 yesterday and there are huge dangerous potholes on it already that would probably throw your car off the road if you were to hit them! Some deterioration even in the middle of the new road! Terrible!
Joan: My air conditioner in my car was “inpacted by a stone” said Bray Motors. $800 fix. Emailed company, never heard back. I only traveled from Burks Falls to Midlothian Rd but met 2 big trucks that sprayed me with gravel.
Marion: Who ever approved a “repair” such as that.???..a bandaid solution if I ever saw one…Now what?..more pot holes than ever before..We deserve better for our “bucks”
Alana: … I almost hit them yesterday I was so angry. It would have cost a lot of money in car repairs and/ or human damage.
Lori : It would be nice if it was done correctly. Nicely finished but full of pot holes already. Not just one here and there but lots & lots. Hopefully they’ll be able to repair them properly before the white stuff comes
Barb: It’s such a waste of time and our tax money to repair hwy 520 in this way. The part that was done last summer is already full of potholes. Someone is trying to fill them up with tar but obviously new holes are popping up faster than they can repair them. Is this a make work project for the MTO? The section of hwy 520 “repaired” this summer is worst then it was before. Large potholes already. MTO needs to resurface hwy 520 with the proper layer of asphalt. Asphalt roads can last for up to 20-25 years under standard traffic with a very minimum maintenance. It will likely save a lot of taxpayers money and frustration in the long run.
Colin : Looks like the road is not considered the same as the 124 and thus more like a secondary road – suggesting that the 124 is the route of choice based on classification and condition.
Kim: My kid went to camp out there, twice there was no flaggers on Midlothian and cars were driving into oncoming traffic. It was a real nightmare. We did call the town to find out who the construction company was to let them know, and didn’t get a call back.
Thank you to our readers who responded. 705BLACKFLY.COM will continue to watch and update this story.
