Extension of 60-km/h zone on County Rd. 41 to address safety issue with trucks turning
Adam Bramburger
Beaver Staff
Drivers north of Napanee on County Rd. 41 might notice a change in speed limits as Lennox and Addington County council approved the extension of a 60-kilometre zone north to Denison Road.
According to reports by the County’s roads and bridges manager Chris Wagar, the municipality’s technical advisory committee investigated an inquiry by Goodyear to have traffic signals installed at the intersection of County Rd. 41, Goodyear Rd. and Gerow Rd.
Staff determined warrants were not met for the installation, however the OPP did advise it had some concern with truck traffic turning southbound and not reaching the posted speeds until they reach Thompson Bridge’s north of Vanluven Road. That is forcing other southbound drivers to reduce their speed to accommodate the turning trucks.
It was noted that contradicts Section 136 (b) of the Highway Traffic Act, Part 10 which reads “Every driver approaching a stop sign at an intersection shall yield the right of way to traffic in the intersection or approaching the intersection on another highway so closely that to proceed would constitute an immediate hazard and, having so yielded the right of way.”
In the same bylaw, Wednesday, councillors also decided to reduce the speed limit on County Rd. 6 between County Rd. 23 to County Rd. 33 from 80 kilometres per hour to 60 kilometres per hour following a request from Loyalist Township. The township’s concern stemmed from road geometrics and the Amherst Drive intersection. Staff used the Transportation Association of Canada’s automated speed limit design guideline to guide its recommendations to council.
The changes in speed limits come with a financial impact of $1,500 for the purchase and installation of new signage in the affected areas.
Wagar also reported the technical advisory committee reviewed a resident’s request for an all-way stop at the intersection of County Rd. 6 and Moscow Rd. Upon review, the committee’s members felt the concerns represented a speed issue and found that installing the all-way stop could create additional safety concerns.
The committee requested accident history data from the OPP and alerted police about speed concerns through the village. It also plans to add a speed counting location in Moscow in the future.
Councillors also learned Wednesday that the technical advisory committee discussed radar speed display signage at its October meeting. Members discussed setting a consistent threshold for the use of the signs — in essence, a vehicle travelling 10 km over the speed limit would see a strobe light — and a routine for relocating signage monthly throughout the year.
Warden Bill Lowry asked if lower tier municipalities and the OPP would be able to co-ordinate on areas they feel speed should be monitored. Wagar said the OPP is actively involved in the process and it has already indicated areas of concern that could be targeted.