Speed review to happen slowly

City staff say the speed review will take up a lot of time and resources and has decided to do it in phases instead.

Stan Nowakowski, manager of engineering services, said they will start by looking into two or three “easy roads” like Box Springs Road or South Boundary Road.

“We’re doing a phased approach to speed reviews,” said Nowakowski. “First off, we’re going to look at some of the roads that may not be as complicated to review. They may be more straight roads, don’t have any curbs and don’t have any access points onto them.”

The city says the speed review process is likely to take a few years to complete.

Councillor Jim Turner said he’s disappointed that the review will take so long. He’d also like to see the focus put on more contentious roadways like Dunmore Road, Carry Drive and Scholten Hill.

Turner said those are places that, as a councillor, he hears the most complains from residents about.

“I think that road is designed to be 60, and I think most people actually drive 60,” said Turner.

He also questioned why the city has designated that road as an area approved for photo radar when he said it’s designed to handle faster traffic.

“We shouldn’t be doing that as far as I’m concerned,” Turner stated. “You know if the road is for 60 why do we have photo radar on there? People get upset about that and I can’t say I blame them really.”

City officials say changing a speed on a road like Dunmore Road is a complicated process because of all the pedestrian crossings, side walks, and intersections.

The city suggests faster traffic may also require more lighted intersections on that stretch of road, and would require further study on the impact to traffic on the roads connecting to Dumnore Road.

There’s no word on exactly when the first phase of the speed review will begin, but it is expected to happen this year.

by Leah Murray

Speed review to happen slowly

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