MoT responds to critique regarding 'Million-dollar alley'
By Kyra Hoggan
The B.C. Ministry of Transportation (MoT) has responded to a Source story about the ministry’s refusal to reduce speed limits along ‘Million-dollar alley’ – a stretch of Highway 22 in front of The Brick that has seen so many collisions that city council felt compelled to repeatedly request MoT intervention.
But all requests to date have been to no avail.
Ministry of Transportation communications director Dave Crebo said, “The ministry is more than happy to discuss the city’s request to lower the speed limit in the area in question.
“Past requests have been denied because the roadway’s design; the land-use characteristics in that area and the comparatively low accident rate compared to the provincial average – together, those factors support the current speed limit.
“Now, that said, if the community has new information or new thoughts, the Ministry is happy to sit down with them.”
Councillor Gord Turner, at council’s last regular meeting, suggested garnering the support of local emergency service providers to shore up the city argument.
RCMP Sgt. Laurel Mathew, commander of the Castlegar detachment, said she’s still gathering statistics and information before taking an official position on the matter, but preliminary findings have her leaning toward the city perspective.
“From what I can see so far, it makes sense, especially with all of the traffic coming from Grandview and the industrial/commercial park there,” she said.
Castlegar fire chief Gerry Rempel said he can’t speak to provincial averages, but he feels the area is, indeed, a hazard.
“I support a reduction in speed limit there,” he said. “We’ve had some horrendous accidents there.
“We’ve been incredibly fortunate in that the injuries haven’t been worse.
“I have no experience in highway engineering – but I think a reduction in the speed limit would make that area less destructive.”
For more on this story, see Speed not the only problem along “Million-dollar alley in this week’s Source.
