We need to put our best face forward

To the editor:

Have you ever seen our local highways in such a mess?

We have just returned from vacation in Maine and New Hampshire. They keep their medians and ditches clear of weeds and junk as a sign of pride in their roadways. Wonder what the tourists say about our highways?

Before we left, I wrote to local authorities about the messy situation at the concrete dividers along the Highways 102/104 interchange.

Someone from the Deptartment of Highways wrote back to say maintenance staff routinely remove debris and “road kill” from this area with consideration being to given to their safety.

Provincial staff are currently making their way across the province to mow medians and removal of vegetation “for later this fall.”

Too late, Mr. Chisholm! This should have been done before the start of the tourism season.

I note that a church organization is the Adopt-a-highway cleanup program provider at the Onslow off-ramp area. We need more community groups like this.

The Nova Scotia Adopt-a-Highway website reads: The Nova Scotia Adopt A Highway Program provides organizations, volunteer groups, and businesses, the opportunity to contribute to local communities and our province by removing litter from roadsides and interchanges. “Instantly the appearance of the province improves, the environment is aided, tourism is strengthened, and wildlife’s attraction to roadways is reduced.”

Well said. Now if only powers-that-be would take this to heart, we may have a better looking countryside next summer.

Ken Kennedy,

Truro