Gibsons Way Reduced To One Lane Each
Way?
I cannot believe that the Town bought into this
project. Not only will we reduce the traffic capacity by 50% on Gibsons
Way from North Road to Pratt Road, but highways is going to put a
concert divider in which will prevent left turns into most business. In
down Town Vancouver it is fairly simple to go around the block, but with
no side streets how are you going to get turned around? If I was a
business owner I would be terrified as to the financial implication on
my business! If the present road configuration is so dangerous why did
we do it in the first place? Why did we waste the money? I have sent
following is an email to the Minister of Transportation because I have
exhausted all other avenues.
Minister
A notice has appeared in Today’s Coast Report
stating that your Ministry is going to proceed with “Safety
Improvements” on Gibsons Way. (The) Jist of the proposal is that four
lanes of traffic will be reduced to one lane each way with the addition
of a 1.5 meter bike lane. There will be a concrete meridian dividing
the two lanes of traffic.
The Police, fire and Ambulance services have
expressed “serious concerns” about these improvements since it will make
it virtually impossible for an emergency vehicle to navigate such a
maze, even with red lights and siren. Our Fire chief said it best; we
have problems getting through with four lanes of traffic and no
meridian.
At the public meeting held a short time ago I
don’t think anyone supported the proposal. One fellow said can you tell
me of any other community where 4 lanes of traffic have been reduced to
two? Response was “No I can’t”. I asked “how much money has been spent
on this proposal to date?” The reply from your staff was “We don’t
know”.
Your Ministry is determined to ram this project
through, and what sickens me is that some one will have to die to prove
your staff wrong. I just got off the phone with your project manager
Jay Porter (604-660-8211) and suggested we get a Bunch of traffic cones,
have Global film it prove this one way or the other, and he said “We
can’t do that”. My reply was “If some one has to die to prove you wrong
then there should be Criminal Negligence causing death charges laid
against him and his staff.”
Surely to God someone in your Ministry has some
common sense and puts some value on a human life. I would ask you to
Freeze this project immediately pending a review by you. Let’s set up
the traffic cones and have the engineer prove a fire truck can pass a
bus in this lane configuration of one lane wide with an additional 1.5
meters and concrete dividers. Common sense and years of practical
experience tells me it can’t be done and I think you will agree with
me. A life is much too precious to waste on stupidity like this.
Sincerely.
Robert W. Jones
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