Salmon Point Road residents want a safer road
Administrator | Jul 25, 2019 | Comments 3
Trailer taking up most of the Salmon Point Road.
Salmon Point Road residents are pleading with council to make their dead end road safer.
Helene Richer spoke to Committee of the Whole Thursday on behalf of the Friends of Salmon Point, representing about 50 homes with a handful of year-round residents.
She noted the local population is dwarfed in the summer season by an influx of people using more than 500 camping and serviced sites at Quinte Isle Campark with more plans for development on the horizon.
“The road is only 21 feet wide on average but pinches to only 19 feet in the curve at Nelson’s Lane,” she explained. “There are no appreciable shoulders, especially in the sharp ‘S’ curve and no line down the centre of the road. The line of sight is very restricted in places and the speed limit is 70 km/h.”
Several residents who cycle and walk the road shared near-miss accident stories in comments to council.
The group requests the County upgrade Salmon Point Road, especially near Nelson’s Lane, increase its width and shoulder, specifically in the curve; paint a white line with a double white line in the curve and add signage indicating pedestrians and cyclists.
A bike and pedestrian path is also requested, along with making a second entrance on Welbanks Road for Quinte Isle’s proposed development.
Councillors asked if the issue should be referred to the traffic committee.
Acting CAO Robert McAuley noted the traffic committee cannot deal with the physical road itself but could review the speed limit. He noted the road is not currently slated for widening.
“It is a road of concern,” said McAuley. “Not necessarily just because of the development but because it is narrow, a forced road… Whether widening falls to the development trigger or whether widening falls to the municipality simply due to existing traffic, I would suggest we have the asset understanding before we initiate it through planning. If the road widening comes with the development, there’s a different set of circumstances than if no development, if it’s amplified by the growth.”
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Seriously, the amount of taxes that a person pays should have no bearing on how safe their local road is. Roads are public property and should be maintained to a common standard for the safety of anyone who uses it. I live in Northport – a policeman recently gave a speeding ticket for a person going 105 in a 50 zone – totally crazy! Traffic problems are County-wide – maybe it is time for both our council and the police to start a “Safety Campaign” – unfortunately, locals are just as guilty as the tourists. Like many, I am tired of hearing excuses about the lack of money or the lack of police as the reason for traffic problems. If they can spend $6K per tree for the revitalization of downtown Picton, don’t tell me there isn’t money for digital speed signs or other traffic controlling devices to help keep people alive.
I would say quinte isle is paying enough taxes now.I wouldn’t want there tax bill
Perhaps quintes isle should pay for a portion of this as some commercial developments are required to upgrade roads when new developments are built