Along its entire length, Argyle Street has a fairly dubious distinction. It is, by far, the most badly beat-up piece of roadway in Renfrew. In particular, the stretch of Argyle between Patrick and Monroe is downright criminal.
If you are forced to drive down this stretch of road, then you are forced to take the operational health of your vehicle into earnest consideration. Unless you’re driving a tractor, a tank, or a large pickup, this little minefield of a road is hazardous for vehicles and operators alike. Whatever you do, strap that seatbelt on.
And it’s been like this for years!
It became really bad somewhere around 2013-2014, and it never got better. The worst coffee-drinking street in town by a long shot. So bad, in fact, that motorists are encouraged to wear bicycle helmets while operating along this roadway.
For the past ten years, Town Council has done nothing to fix it. Evidently it can’t be done. It’s impossible and not worth the effort, I guess. Other streets, with people paying higher rates of municipal taxes, seem to get fixed first. Not Argyle, not ever.
So as a Renfrew resident, if you’re able to navigate town without venturing down this mogul-infested run of busted-up asphalt, then why should you care about your town doing nothing, over a full decade, about the condition of this street.
Has anyone ever asked? And if so, did the answer make eyes roll back into their sockets?
If Canadian artillery were to train their howitzers on this road, and pummel it with 155 mm shells, the net result would likely be one of improvement.
Why not block it off during the Renfrew Fair and hold a smaller version of the smash-up derby there? Bucking bronco rides in the open bed of a pickup truck? Maybe incorporate it into some kind of summer festival, possibly holding a version of The Amazing Race there, only if you survive, it’s then called The Amazing Grace.
I don’t know, it’s difficult to understand, really. There must be a really good reason for council after council of well-meaning people to not dig into this problem. I clearly don’t know, nor can I divine what it might be, but there has to be some sort of reason.
Otherwise, it’s just purposeful neglect.
NEWSMAGRENFREW 