With the main part of phase-two downtown revitalization almost complete, two major changes along the highway through Burns Lake have left some local residents scratching their heads.
A persistent perception is that the highway through town is now narrower than it once was. This concern, coupled with new medians in the middle of the road, have led to speculation that the new design won’t allow for larger, oversized traffic to get through, and that the design will cause problems in for snow removal in the winter.
According to Carl Lutz, district manager for the ministry of transportation and infrastructure, there’s no danger that oversized traffic won’t be able to make it through town.
“Road widths through Burns Lake will accommodate over-width vehicles such as low beds carrying heavy equipment or things like mobile homes,” Lutz said. “The islands are designed to be mountable and the signage is removable for those extra wide loads.”
A second issue raised since the completion of the road work are the possible complications added to winter snow removal. Last summer, when plans for the downtown revitalization were being discussed, Rick Martin, director of public works for the Village of Burns Lake, said the village will know better what needs to be done to accommodate the bulbs and medians after the first winter season.
“The curb bulbs will require a change in the way we plow Hwy. 16, but we believe that with different methodology and perhaps additional attachments on existing equipment the public works crew can adapt,” Martin said. “We will have better information after the first season.”
New crosswalks in town mean that pedestrians have more, clearly marked, right-of-ways across the highway through town.
The Ministry of Transportation and Burns Lake RCMP detachment St. Sgt. Grant MacDonald remind motorists that stopping for pedestrians is not merely optional; it’s the law.
“Pedestrians have the right of way in a marked crosswalk,” MacDonald said.
Having right-of-way still requires care to manage it safely.
“The single most important safety tip in this area relates to both the driver and the pedestrian establishing eye contact before the pedestrian crosses at a marked cross walk,” Grant advised.
