Residents near Esquimalt Lagoon claim that neighbouring roads are getting increasingly dangerous as more and more commuters use the area to avoid traffic along Metchosin and Sooke Roads.
Milburn Drive, Lagoon Road and Ocean Boulevard are the main problem routes, and residents have taken their concerns to the City of Colwood and West Shore RCMP.
At a protective services committee meeting late last month, several residents spoke up about the issue, including Craig Booth, who has lived on Milburn Drive for 52 years.
B次元官网网址�(ItB次元官网网址檚) a lack of enforcement,B次元官网网址� he told the Gazette. B次元官网网址�52 years ago you couldnB次元官网网址檛 speed around anywhere and I think that (with) the housing being built at Royal BayB次元官网网址 think people are coming along Metchosin (Road) and cutting down.B次元官网网址�
The retired Booth recently spent his morning counting the cars that came down Milburn Road during rush hour. He estimates that of the 255 cars he counted, 220 were going above the routeB次元官网网址檚 40 km/h posted speed limit.
B次元官网网址淪ome were doing I would say close to 80 and a lot were doing 60, 65 or 70,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 one truck here that I estimate does over 80 every morning.B次元官网网址�
Booth says that speeding concerns coupled with the lack of a sidewalk has kept a lot of his neighbours from walking to the lagoon.
B次元官网网址淢y wife used to try and walk (Ocean Boulevard) every day. She wonB次元官网网址檛 go down there in the morning nowB次元官网网址t does have quiet times. During the day itB次元官网网址檚 fairly quiet. IB次元官网网址檇 say the traffic is bearable (then).B次元官网网址�
At the meeting, some residents noted an increased RCMP presence in the area recently, a trend they hope will continue.
Others put forward ideas for traffic calming measures, from speed bumps to painted crosswalks and street art that would aim to give the area an improved sense of community.
Insp. Larry Chomyn spoke at the meeting and acknowledged the validity of the concerns from the residents, noting that the area has received an increased police presence recently and that he will be meeting with members of the detachmentB次元官网网址檚 traffic unit over the concerns raised.
Help from the public, including citizen reports made to police, are other means of improving the situation, Chomyn noted.
Const. Alex Berube, media relations officer with the West Shore RCMP, wrote in an e-mail that B次元官网网址渢he concerns raised around Lagoon Road have not only been passed on to the traffic section, but to the whole detachment, including the general duty members.B次元官网网址�
On Monday, Colwood council passed a recommendation to have city engineers look into the concerns and prepare a report on traffic volumes, speeding and pedestrian safety in the area.
B次元官网网址淚f it was my neighbourhood, I certainly would hope that the City would consider doing something to make it less attractive to drive quickly through this residential neighbourhood,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Cynthia Day, who chairs the protective services committee.
A study on these concerns could run alongside an existing initiative to improve the blind intersection at Heatherbell Road and Lagoon Road, Mayor Carol Hamilton noted.
joel.tansey@goldstreamgazette.com
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