WHEREAS the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure policy states, “Private, Industrial, Hamlets, Towns, Villages or Municipal approaches are not maintained by the Ministry if they are not part of the Ministry maintained highway network”; and

WHEREAS there are many municipal roads which intersect the highway network throughout the province; and

WHEREAS the highway right of ways extend out onto these municipal roads giving the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure jurisdiction over these section of roads;

BE IT RESOLVED that SARM lobby the Provincial Government to have the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure maintain the approaches that intersect the highway network.

Response from Honourable Don McMorris, Minister of Highways and Infrastructure

The Ministry is responsible for maintaining approaches which are designated Ministry approaches in the Highway Inventory System such as highway/highway intersections, community access, service roads and ramps.  In some cases, the Ministry has maintained municipal approaches as a goodwill gesture when time permitted; however, it is the responsibility of the owner/administrator to maintain.

The Ministry formalized its current approach maintenance practice to clarify the responsibility of maintenance depending on the type of approaches in the highway right of way.  Due to further inquiries from SARM, the Ministry is expanding on the existing policy to provide further details and clarification.