Council Screenshot
The City of Dryden is introducing new speed limits on Sandy Beach Road effective July 19.
Acting Clerk Allyson Euler says Council has agreed to a recommendation to drop the speed from 70 km/hr to 60 km/hr between Sandy Beach Park and Highway 17 to try to manage safety concerns.
The move follows an email complaint to the Traffic Committee that said, “Sandy Beach Road is a narrow, well traveled road, and that the walking path only runs along a portion of it. All of which could lead to serious accidents.”
Staff note the road is also a busy bus route and enhanced safety measures will only help protect kids in the area.
Council agreed but also called for additional safety measures.
Shayne MacKinnon says, “Intersection stops. There are several places along that stretch of road where there could be stop signs, yield signs. A change-of-lane configuration. To put a slight S in any roadway is in fact a traffic calming measure.”
MacKinnon adds, “Creating a Community Safety Zone. I think we are just fresh off the heels of doing that in front of St. Joseph’s School and Parkdale Road. Seems to be effective. Also the sign that is there giving people an idea on how fast they are travelling. The request for target enforcement.”
He went on to recommend, “An extension of the walkway or an extension of the lighting. It doesn’t have to be done in one stretch. It can be done incrementally.”
MacKinnon also suggested installing a gravel walkway and called for more upgrades and supports for the travel route in the Barclay area.
Michelle Price agrees more needs to be done as too many people speed and don’t pay attention.
“Maybe a few stop signs to slow it down and even a few more signs just to remind people that you are in a residential area and people are walking and to be cautious of that.”
Norm Bush is calling for a more comprehensive, staged plan to improve the street and walking path.
“It’s going to take some significant resources to get this done but secondly there’s a number of property issues that we need to understand as a Council. What’s city property? What’s private property? Where can we go and not go? What are our limitations and if there are limitations, how do we overcome them.”
Chief Administrative Officer Roger Nesbitt says they decided to first go with the speed change because the City identified there are safety concerns.
However, he notes that’s as far as they can go right now given budget limitations this year.
The issue will be brought back to the Traffic Committee for discussion.
