Harbour Grace council worried about state of Southside Road

By Olivia Bradbury / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Harbour Grace councillor Peter Yetman is being directed by his colleagues to put a push on for repairs to Southside Road, which runs along the edge of the ocean, and has so much wear in places that sections have dropped off.
Deputy Mayor Keith Skinner, who chairs the public works committee, briefed council about the situation at its March 24 meeting.
“The Department of Highways is going to tender the pricing for repairs to the road as per our supervisor’s talk with him today,” said Skinner.
Mayor Don Coombs asked Skinner when the tender is expected to be called. Skinner said he had not been given that information.
Coombs expressed concern about the condition of the road, asserting someone could have a serious accident because of it. “The washouts are touching the pavement,” the mayor noted.
Councillor Peter Yetman said that as he is now a member of the public works committee, he could speak with the Town’s public works superintendent, Patrick Hearns, about it, and also try to reach the director responsible for the work at the provincial Department of Transportation, as well as the minister.
Mayor Coombs approved.
“Say you’re being directed by council to check into it,” said Coombs, who asked Yetman to ask about a date as to when the repairs will be done.
“It’s a safety issue, and we’ve discussed for the last three to four meetings, and we can’t do anything because we’re not permitted,” said Coombs. “But we’ve got to speed it up.”
Both Coombs and Skinner expressed thanked Yetman for offering to look into the issue for council.