Richard Froese
South Peace News
Speed limits on three stretches of roads in Big Lakes County may soon be reduced to make it safer for pedestrians and traffic.
At its regular meeting April 23, council gave first reading to amend the speeding limit bylaw 05-2011.
A public hearing has been scheduled for May 14 at 1 p.m.
The bylaw has been reformatted into a consolidated document to improve clarity and ease of reference, says Ben Letemplier, director of public works.
“Previously, the amendments were not all compiled into a single bylaw,” Letemplier adds.
However, the updated version incorporates all past amendments into one document with the corresponding bylaw references noted with each change.
In 2024, a request for a walking trail along Township Rd. 740 was received from landowners near Spruce Point Park Resort for the safety of pedestrians walking along the side of the road, Letemplier says.
At its regular meeting Sept. 25, council received a cost estimate of $271,000 for a pathway on the road for information. Council considered the cost too high and directed administration to explore other safety options.
Administration proposes a speed limit of 30 km/hr on Township Rd. 740 beginning at Range Rd. 104 (Spruce Point Park Road) and continuing westerly about 990 metres to the end of municipal roadway at Northwest Section 32, Township 73, Range 10, West of the Fifth Meridian.
“Additionally, in our review of work to be completed in this year’s bridge maintenance contract, it was noted that a few locations should have the speed limit reduced at the bridge crossings due to the road being much narrower than the bridge structures or the steep sideslopes near the bridge structure,” Letemplier says.
“Inn these specific instances, guardrail installation is not recommended, therefore the speed should be reduced for safety at least until the structures are replaced in the future.”
Two other areas are proposed to reduce speed limits to 50 km/hr.
One includes Range Rd. 153 (Swamp Rd.) beginning at about 3.16 km north of Township Rd 752A and 200 metres south of the Bridge File 81343 structure at Northwest Section 27, Township 75, Range 15, West of the Fifth Meridian and continuing north for about 1.96 km to 200 metres north of the Bridge File 13100 structure at Northwest Section 34, Township 75, Range 15, West of the Fifth Meridian.
“If the speed is not reduced at the bridge structures, then the County should consider much more extensive road repairs to widen the roads in the vicinity bridges so that guardrails can be installed,” Letemplier says.
“This work would be costly and the benefits limited, especially on Range Rd. 153 (Swamp Road) where there is low volume traffic.”
Cost to post the new speed limits is estimated at $2,500, he notes.