The mayor of Carman is not surprised Main Street South was selected as Manitoba's worst road. The busy street topped CAA Manitoba's worst roads list this year with about 1,400 votes. Bob Mitchell says the provincial roadway has needed a major upgrade for several years now, but they're still waiting for the province to do something..

"The roads are in very, very poor condition. We get calls constantly about it. Certainly not the distinction that a community wants. But it's there. Hopefully it'll attract some attention to it, and get it fixed."

While Main Street South in Carman was number 1 on the worst roads list, Main Street North in Carman came in at #5 as well. Mitchell points out that, while all of Main Street needs to be revamped, there is also a stretch of Highway 13 north of town that needs attention as well, and is part of the province's overall repair plan.

Mitchell was asked if there is any value to topping a list like that...

"I'm not sure. It certainly draws attention to it to the public. But whether it'll actually convince the province to do anything, I really doubt it. I think that it's more when they can fit it into the their budget process, and when they can find the money to actually do roads."

He says the province has been well aware of the poor condition of the road for several years, but just hasn't found the money to to rebuild the street. He adds he doesn't think a change in government will make much of a difference either...

"A change in government isn't going to magically create a bunch of money. It might redirect money to fix roads in rural areas that are important to transportation. But, as I said, they're not going to have a whole lot more money to spend. And I think it's also going to take them a while to figure out just where they are if you get a new government."

He points out Carman's Main Street is an R-tec road and supports a significant amount of truck traffic, which easily wears down the road.