Residents along the Lumby-Mabel Lake Road are just waiting for a tragedy to occur.
A petition is demanding improvements to both the paved and gravel portions of the road because of growing traffic volumes and close calls on the route.
“We’ve been trying to get road improvements for some time,” said Pat Pointer, with the South Mabel Lake Property Owners.
“There are thousands of loads of logs coming out of this valley and in places, there is no room to share the road. It’s been neglected for 30 years.”
Besides being narrow, the pavement is in rough shape.
“There’s patches on top of patches and some corners are dangerous,” said Pointer, adding that the road is extremely busy during the summer.
“Mabel Lake Provincial Park has been expanded and overflow (parking lot) is overflowing.”
Pointer says residents have met with the Ministry of Transportation but the response hasn’t been positive.
“It always comes down to no money it seems,” said Pointer, adding, though, that $15,000 was spent to blast one sharp corner.
Residents have also been in contact with Tolko Industries which is logging in the area.
“They also have concerns with the road and advised the ministry that they would be using this area very heavily for the next few years and this was communicated to the ministry well in advance,” said Pointer.
The petition currently has 500 names on it and it is available at the Mabel Lake Marina and in Lumby at the Snac Shac, Gilbert Parts Depot, Irly Bird Building Center, Riders Edge, Ida’s Bakery, Lumby Health Foods, Re/Max, Century 21 and KBM Automotive.
The petition, which will be presented to MLA Eric Foster and the Ministry of Transportation, has the full support of Rick Fairbairn, rural Lumby director.
“We have some deteriorating road conditions and with the extensive logging, it is getting worse,” said Fairbairn.
“I am encouraging the residents to pursue the upgrades.”
