Editor, The Times:
Re: Proposed roundabout
I concur 100 per cent with Jim Lamberton’s comments on the proposed roundabout. I too was at the afternoon session of the meeting and very few people thought it was a fantastic, or even a sensible idea. Some asked if there was going to be a vote, even by show of hands, and was told NO - so how was the 67 per cent calculated?
The only people who 100 per cent wanted it were the mayor and some of the council - a couple of council members were present and seemed uncertain about the whole thing. Even Keith McNeill’s Question of the Week did not find 67 per cent approval!
I have had more experience of roundabouts than many of you, having grown up in England and negotiated these obstacles on a daily basis. They are continually clogged by transports that have a hard time negotiating the circle, even though all the roundabouts there are two-lane. The tractor part might make it but the trailer takes a shortcut.
Here transports come through in mini convoys - do you really, honestly, believe that they will stop to give way to another vehicle? They have up to 18 gears and are naturally slow to get up speed again. Ask any transport or wide load driver their concerns regarding the safe negotiation of this proposed “folly”.
I wonder why Alberta, which installed roundabouts, removed them all if they are so great? How are the many visitors unfamiliar with these obstructions - especially those people driving rented motor homes and are unfamiliar with a vehicle of that size? What about access to the Infocenter, the Shell gas station and Jim’s?
How do the residents of Upper Clearwater, Greer subdivision, Wyndhaven subdivision and the Clearwater Valley Road itself feel? Every time they want to go anywhere they would be forced to negotiate it. What about emergency vehicles in a hurry? What happens when the inevitable accident snarls up access in all directions?
I asked one of the Highway reps how pedestrians were meant to cross the intersection and was informed that there would be four pedestrian lights, one across each road and once a pedestrian pushed the button, all four lights would flash and halt the traffic.
The hospital and doctors’ office, library and CSS are all accessed from that intersection and what happens when someone uses a crossing and the pedestrian lights halt traffic? Chaos!
Government says it has no money for the teachers, paramedics, education or health systems, and needed programs are being cut. However, apparently up to $2.2 million is to be spent on this “folly” without any problem.
Susan Campany
Clearwater, B.C.