To the editor,
Re: Traffic calming hasn’t calmed drivers, Letters, Feb. 13.
I am writing as a concerned resident and parent. My husband, son and I live near the intersection of Rock City Road and Opal Road.
The new traffic calming triangle that was installed at the end of Opal Road was a selfish and irresponsible decision. Instead of having the vehicle traffic have an access through Opal Road we now have more traffic going down Rock City Road to Departure Bay Road which has an elementary school feet away and a high school a couple blocks away. This intersection is not monitored by traffic lights or crossing guards to ensure safety of these young students and pedestrians.
The frustration of drivers not being able to turn has increased the speed that drivers use on Rock City Road and the amount of U-turns and illegal driving up that street, which is not only dangerous for other drivers but also for the pedestrians, which include children.
When the testing was done to measure traffic on Opal Road, did the city councillors consider the increased traffic and speed on Rock City Road, where children/young adults walk on a daily basis? Were there multiple accidents at the corner of Opal and Rock City?
If you spent an hour of your day, beginning or the end of school hours to view the increased traffic that has since developed at the intersections on Departure Bay Road, you would see how dangerous this decision has created.
Is it going to take a young child’s life for the city councillors to see what an irresponsible decision this was? Let’s hope not.
K. Mortensen, Nanaimo
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Opal Road was never dangerous until it was blocked off
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: All drivers should get to use Opal Road, not just residents
To the editor,
Re: Traffic calming hasn’t calmed drivers, Letters, Feb. 13.
As a resident of Rock City Road, I am writing about the travesty and expense of money to put in a barrier onto Opal Road from Rock City Road, thereby cutting off all residents who previously had two ways to escape their area in case of an emergency. We are now left with one way in and out. This is exactly what Hammond Bay residents have – one way in and out.
I am also requesting that any check into the costing of an ‘upgraded’ road on Opal be done in conjunction with the cost of installing lights on Rock City and Departure Bay roads and on Uplands and Departure Bay roads. Both of these intersections are hugely dangerous, particularly left-hand turns onto Departure Bay. Someone, including children crossing at Rock City and Departure Bay, run the risk of being killed.
I find it incredulous that the city would agree with approximately 20 owners on Opal Road who objected to the traffic in their neighbourhood and then would cut off 800-plus citizens – who also pay taxes – access to Uplands Road. Perhaps the city needs to look at their roads and build connections to the main arteries, so none of us are left with one way in and out?
In addition to this, how are emergency vehicles accommodated in the area?
If a resident in the lower part of Opal Road (toward Rock City Road) has a stroke or heart attack, the ambulance would need to go all the way around and up Uplands and into the area. This process takes minutes that could mean someone’s survival. The same would be applicable if there was a fire on Opal.
Why would anyone want a lesser chance of survival?
RELATED: City council asks for another report on ‘high-speed shortcut’ road
June Ross, Nanaimo
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The views and opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the writer and do not reflect the views of Black Press or the Nanaimo News Bulletin. If you have a different view, we encourage you to write to us or contribute to the discussion below.
