Section of road puts people at risk

Over the years, I have driven many times over the TransCanada Highway from Salmon Cove via Roaches Line/Veterans Memorial Drive to St. John’s. I did again on Sunday, Sept. 20.

I have two concerns which need to be addressed.

As I approached Avondale Access (Route 90), I noticed many roads signs indicating that there were construction crews at work and I was asked to greatly reduce my speed from 100 kilometres per hour to 50 km/h. This I did, as did other drivers. However, I saw no construction workers and no pavement being completed. There were several large pieces of construction/pavement equipment left on the side of the TCH but no men/women working.

As some drivers soon realized that there were no workers at this site, speed began to pick up, even with signs threatening double fines if the speed was over 50 km/h. This becomes confusing, and drivers do not know the expectation for such construction areas where no construction is being completed.

I have witnessed the same at different times at many road construction/pavement sites. Why are we expected to tolerate such conditions which can lead to serious accidents and even death?

As I continued driving on the TCH past Avondale Access Road, Route 63, at a reduced speed, I kept a watchful eye in case there were some construction workers in the area, but I did not see any. As I neared Salmonier Access Road, Route 90, I saw a sign to indicate a bump ahead. I braked to further reduce my speed to about 20 km/h, then — bang! The front end of my car struck hard as there was a major sharp cut across the pavement, with about a four-foot length removed from the road. This was by far more than our usual road bumps; this was a crater with no bottom and about a four-inch dip.

My car hit very hard and my wife and sister each let out a loud shout. At that time there were three cars stopped on the side of the road near the crater; I suspect there was damage done to the undercarriage of the cars.

Imagine a motorcyclist driving over this area; the results could be more than physical damage to a vehicle or motorcycle.

Construction workers expect the driving public to respect them. I, as a driver, expect the same when I am driving in a construction/paving area. Harold Peach Salmon Cove