The RM of Portage's public works crews are working on the region's gravel roads. That's according to Reeve Kam Blight, in acknowledgement local roads aren't in the best shape. He says Council recently met to discuss the issue, and while the work is being done, they're also at the mercy of the weather. 

Reeve Kam Blight

"Many of our gravel roads are in less than ideal conditions right now, and the RM council has just finished a special meeting of council to try and help provide solutions, and work with the public works department to rectify the situation as fast as we can. However, we have to recognize Mother Nature needs to cooperate for us to be able to achieve this."

Despite the ongoing wet conditions, Blight says their staff are doing what they can to improve the road conditions.

"We have our equipment out there right now. However, we can only do so much when the roads are in wet conditions. We need things to dry up and we'll be on top of it as soon as it does. We'll put extra resources toward it. Our guys are out there trying to fix what they can, where it's in a semi-dry state to make improvements. They're also trying to do band-aid fixes in the meantime, because we know there's possibly more rain coming."

Blight says part of the issue may have been the timing of the rainfall, noting the precipitation came after fresh work was done on many of the municipality's roads.

"We got a little aggressive at times in trying to recrown our roads and bring shoulders up. Unfortunately untimely rains kind of came and bit us back a bit. That's just one of the issues. We recognize we have an issue, and I know we're not alone in this matter. I want people to know we are trying to make things right, and I wish we could fix them overnight, but it's going to take time."

He says in speaking with other municipalities, they're indicating similar challenges as a result of the weather.