"There's going to be an election between now and when it's supposed to happen. So, will it really happen?"

That's from Margy-Jo Draycott, a resident who lives along Provincial Road 227 and attended Tuesday's announcement from the province that the roadway will be completely paved through the next five years. 

Residents say promises have been for up to thirty years ago, with some widening having taken place in one stint.  However, the efforts were soon abandoned. 

Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Doyle Piwniuk made the announcement with several municipal and provincial officials on hand, including RM of Portage Reeve Kam Blight and Portage MLA Ian Wishart. 

"We've lived down there for like 25 to 30 years, and it's been promised and promised and promised. Hasn't happened yet," says Draycott.  "It's vital. We live down there, our cars are all marked up, the windshields are smashed, and trucks are in the ditch. There are all kinds of accidents. It isn't a safe road." 

The Draycotts live about eight miles west of the Marquette section of the road, About 8 miles E here, 

Stephen Draycott adds governments can change, and when that happens, the new government can claim it's not in the budget and cannot be afforded.

"Things can change in the future, so we're hoping, we're hoping," says Draycott. "Definitely, it should be done, whether it needs to be done. But it should be done. There are always priorities."

Doyle Piwniuk responds.

"The thing is, we actually have a three-year budget for the first time this year," notes Piwniuk. "It was the first time that was put in to match other provinces. The next coming, year we're going to have a five-year budget. So, it's in the five-year budget. It's budgeted. It's allocated. So, this is where we're moving forward to make sure that the stretch gets done, and it's going to be good economically."

Another resident adds he's hopeful, seeing as this scope of an announcement with a live-stream broadcast and several officials on had had not been done before. 

Mike Waldner is with Northern Breeze Colony and is thrilled to hear of the project.

"The upgrade on the 227 will benefit us greatly due to windows, vehicles, and parts," says Waldner. "The road we have to travel, sometimes, is very devastating. It's dangerous and I'm very glad to hear that they want to improve the 227. It's great news. Long time coming."

Draycott adds he's hopeful, seeing as this scope of an announcement with a live-stream broadcast and several officials on hand had not been done before. 

Residents gatheredResidents gathered for announcement

Mike Waldner is with Northern Breeze Colony and is thrilled to hear of the project.

"The upgrade on the 227 will benefit us greatly due to windows, vehicles, and parts," says Waldner. "The road we have to travel, sometimes, is very devastating. It's dangerous and I'm very glad to hear that they want to improve the 227. It's great news. Long time coming."

Ed Campbell also lives by the highway, and says many drivers are following Google Maps and are taken to this route, noting for that reason, the road needs to be completed. 

"It's a disaster. It's dangerous. End of story," says Campbell. "It's dangerous. There are too many accidents. Motorcycles in the ditch and motorhomes getting smashed up. And they call it a provincial road? It's kind of an embarrassment. They're caused by a lot of loose gravel and the potholes. Broken windshields are from passing traffic and meeting traffic. The stones are flying, the vehicles are getting destroyed. We're familiar with it. We kind of back off the pedal and go a little slower, but people that don't know, they're in trouble. And Google says go this way 'cause, it's a shortcut. They don't know the difference, so they go that way. Just in the small group here, I bet you could find 30 people that they've turned around and said, 'Get off the road, go the other way because you're going to destroy your vehicle'."