Roadside washrooms closed as province cuts spending
Alberta Transportation ordered the closing of washrooms at two northern Alberta rest areas frequented by long-haul truck drivers in early October.
The two facilities, located near Lac La Biche and Vilna, were boarded up as a cost-cutting measure, according to the province.
“The washrooms at the Birkland Lake Safety Rest Area (on Hwy 881 near Lac La Biche) and the Hwy 36 Safety Rest Area by Vilna were closed in early October. The rest areas are still available,” read an emailed statement from Alberta Transportation.
“The washrooms were closed until further notice in an effort to find efficiencies and reduce costs. Alberta Transportation reviews all highway maintenance activities on an ongoing basis, including the operation of provincial rest areas.”
The decision worries some, including Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA) president Chris Nash, who says that Alberta lags behind some other parts of North America in terms of facilities for truckers.
“We never want to see any of them go backward. We’re definitely lacking on the infrastructure side when it comes to rest areas as it is,” Nash said. “Further to that, we advocate for more of them because we’re bringing more women into the industry, and the people working in the industry now should have the proper facilities, too.
“No company in the world would get away with saying, ‘Due to cost-cutting, we’re getting rid of all the washrooms in the building.’ It wouldn’t work.”
Vilna Mayor Leo Chapdelaine speculated that vandalism was a factor behind the closing of the washrooms about 10 kilometres away from his village, but said seeing the boarded-up facilities caught him by surprise.
“There was no consultation whatsoever with anybody from Vilna with regards to the closure,” Chapdelaine said.
The AMTA says it’s reaching out to the province to voice their concerns about the potential shuttering of other facilities.
Nash also wants to see more clean, accessible facilities that provide truckers with washrooms and a place to sit down and grab a coffee and a bite to eat. It’s the same idea of having a break room in a traditional office, he says.
“These drivers need to have a quality of life,” Nash said. “We need to elevate the standards of what it means to be a long-haul driver.”