Langford Mayor Stew Young is calling for immediate upgrades to a section of Highway 1 after two fatal crashes in less than a month.
A 24-year-old man died after a head-on collision Sunday on the Trans-Canada Highway near the Leigh Road overpass. This is the second fatal crash on the stretch of roadway between Leigh Road and West Shore Parkway since January.
B次元官网网址淚n light of whatB次元官网网址檚 happened, we owe it to the families, we owe it to the travelling public to make that safer,B次元官网网址� Young said.
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On Jan. 8, two people B次元官网网址� both drivers B次元官网网址� were sent to hospital with serious injuries after a head-on crash occurred on an undivided curve of the Trans-Canada Highway just south of West Shore Parkway.
One driver died later that month.
RELATED: RCMP confirm one dead after head-on crash earlier this month in Langford
Young wants to see additional lanes and separation barriers installed on the stretch of Highway 1 between Leigh Road and West Shore Parkway B次元官网网址� changes he said the City of Langford has advocated for, for years.
In 2016, the province agreed to upgrade the highway to four lanes and install a centre median, and began the planning process. Last week the province told the City of Langford the project would break ground in the summer, according to Young, who no longer accepts that timeline.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 always been a priority in Langford,B次元官网网址� he told Black Press. B次元官网网址淲e would like it started next week. We donB次元官网网址檛 want to wait until the summer for something that is, as far as IB次元官网网址檓 concerned, the most urgent piece of work that has to be done.
B次元官网网址淏arriers save lives, so letB次元官网网址檚 find a way to get the barriers up at least,B次元官网网址� he added. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an unsafe stretch of road. We all know that it needs to be done B次元官网网址� I donB次元官网网址檛 want to see another accident or another fatality.B次元官网网址�
On Monday, West Shore RCMP Const. Nancy Saggar noted since January 2017 there have been 79 collisions between the Leigh Road overpass and just north of West Shore Parkway. She added that those numbers only reflect collisions that were reported to police. More than 40 of those collisions were in an area without medians.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an area of concern for us,B次元官网网址� she said, adding the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has been working to improve the highway. B次元官网网址淲e believe this is an area that could also use improvements.B次元官网网址�
On Facebook, many Black Press readers echoed the mayorB次元官网网址檚 call for change.
B次元官网网址淎 barrier is essential there. Two possibly avoidable deaths in a month. How many more? RIP young man,B次元官网网址� said Cale Ralston.
B次元官网网址淪o sad. I am devastated for that family,B次元官网网址� commented Lara Forbes. B次元官网网址淚 drive that every day and it is windy and narrow with limited visibility on that corner. Also, two lanes merge into one just before.B次元官网网址�
Diana Craveiro commented: B次元官网网址淗ow many fatalities does the government B次元官网网址榥eedB次元官网网址� before they put barriers in? People cross that line constantly. Every time I drive northbound, at least two to three vehicles cross the yellow line. Rip young man. Condolences.B次元官网网址�
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At the time of publication, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure had not yet responded to requests for comment on this story.
- With files from Shalu Mehta
nina.grossman@blackpress.ca
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