A twice-postponed public input meeting about a roundabout proposed for the junction of Highway 5 and the road to Wells Gray Park likely will be held in late February or early March, according to MLA Terry Lake.
Originally scheduled for mid-December and then mid-January, the meeting was postponed first because of the tragic death of two local teachers, and then because some desired information was not yet available.
“We want to gather as much information as possible, so people can make informed decisions,” Lake said. “One thing we learned with the HST was that, when people have concerns, we need to listen.”
The Kamloops-North Thompson MLA noted that a number of people have signed a petition against the roundabout.
Representatives of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure met late last year with people from the BC Trucking Association. Concerns raised at that meeting have resulted in some design changes, he said.
One or more people from the trucking association likely will attend the upcoming public input forum in Clearwater.
“I hope to be at the meeting myself,” the MLA said, “but we will be in session then so it will depend on when it is held.”
A roundabout would help address safety and speed concerns at the location, he said.
Lake noted that he was recently in Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island. There is a roundabout there that connects the highway with the beach. The mayor told him there had been some concerns before the roundabout went in but since it has been constructed, most people have been happy with it, he said.
