The Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) board of directors decided to petition the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) to reduce the speed limit on a major road in the south Shuswap at their Nov. 17 meeting.
The board will compose a letter to the ministry asking that the speed limit for Blind Bay Road, from Balmoral Road to Ingram Road, be reduced to 50 kilometres an hour.
The road’s current speed limit is 60 km/h.
Concerns for pedestrian safety, particularly during the busy summer months, when the road is busiest, dominated discussion. Other issues such as enforcement and signage were brought up.
“Blind Bay Road is used as a major walking facility in the Blind Bay area, an adjacent asphalt trail was created, but cars whizz by at 80 km/h and faster within inches of children and seniors walking along that road,” said CSRD electoral area C director Paul Demenok.
Demenok explained Blind Bay Road is a school bus zone, and although there is signage indicating a pedestrian zone, he wants it bulked up.
Demenok said he has already consulted with MOTI about reducing the speed limit, but they said they would not do it.
Electoral area D director Rene Talbot says there was a similar speed limit change on the highway in the Falkland area, but without enforcement the change is meaningless.
“They put the signs back to 50 km/h on the other side of the landfill road, but the average speed is probably still 90. If the RCMP aren’t going to enforce those speed limits, you may get the signs but it won’t slow people down,” he said.
Electoral area F director Larry Morgan also mentioned excessive speeds in his area.
“Since we got the repaving done, Squilax Anglemont Road has become a racetrack; there’s no speed bumps anymore. I’ll be interested in the reply you get from MOTI,” he said.
Director Rhona Martin said speed is a concern throughout the Shuswap especially near public parks and access to lake.
“We designate it as a park but that doesn’t affect the speed limit at all,” she said.
The board also moved to invite MOTI representatives to a future meeting to discuss the area further.
