One-way opposed
Glace Bay High student organizes petition over changes to access road
A Glace Bay High School student is concerned that an access road to Glace Bay High School is now one-way.
“I started a petition and I have hundreds of names already,” said Mitchell MacDonald. “Hundreds of people are outraged and want this changed back.”
Earlier this month, the Cape Breton Regional Police announced the access road to the high school off Ling Street was changed to one-way due to traffic and safety concerns — including people using the school grounds as a short cut to Reserve Street.
Motorists can still exit the school grounds onto Ling Street but cannot enter the grounds from Ling Street.
The high school student believes the one-way street is now a safety issue.
“Safety is a concern because there’s a lot of new drivers at this school,” he said.
MacDonald said at times there are 100 vehicles on Reserve Street in the morning and after school.
“Now rather than a back road to the high school, the students are being forced into major traffic congestion on Reserve Street,” he said. “With the new Tim Hortons there will be even more traffic and I think the whole situation should be reassessed.”
Mitchell MacDonald hopes people will support his petition that can be accessed at https:// www.change.org/p/cape-breton-victoria-regional-schoolboard-glace-bay-high-school-access-road-return-it-to-two-way.
Lewis MacDonald, co-ordinator of facilities management for the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board, said they’ve received a few calls regarding the access road.
Some callers, he said, have expressed concern about the traffic on Reserve Street and also a desire to have it reopened as a two-way street.
Lewis MacDonald said the one-way designation was a recommendation
made by the police.
“We agreed with that recommendation and implemented it this year.”
On Sept. 21, Lewis MacDonald said he checked out the traffic at 8:40 a.m. and at 8:52 a.m. The first school bell rings at 8:55 a.m.
“I drove down Reserve Street to the school twice before school started and I found things moved right along,” he said.
MacDonald said he did have to wait a minute or two to turn into the high school but traffic continued slow and steady.
Over the years Lewis MacDonald said they’ve looked into this issue due to complaints of people using the road at all hours of the day and night and as a shortcut to Reserve Street.
“This is something we looked at and agreed with the police recommendation.”
Glace Bay High School principal Donnie Holland said the change actually happened the first day of school and students were informed.
Holland said the traffic change has caused some issues.
“There have been a couple days it has been backed up and kids have been late but I think it’s just people getting adjusted to the new traffic flow,” he said.
“I think kinks need to be
worked out and once people understand that maybe leaving at 8:05 (is better than) leaving at 8:15.”
Holland said neither the school nor the school board were responsible for the change but rather it was the police who had safety concerns.
Sgt. Joe Farrell of the regional police said the access road off Ling Street is private property belonging to the school board and safety concerns resulted in the traffic change.
“It’s going to remain how it is for now and there’s no expected changes in the near future.”
Farrell said people heading to the high school have to adjust their time to ensure they get to school on time and safely.
“Not everyone is going to arrive at school at the same time.”
Farrell said officers are monitoring traffic.
“There was a little bottleneck of traffic Thursday at Hickman Street but that had to do with construction still in place on Ling Street,” he said. “When construction is finished that bottleneck will be alleviated. “
Farrell said once construction is finished they will continue to monitor traffic on Ling Street to make sure people are obeying the traffic signs.
“Now rather than a back road to the high school, the students are being forced into major traffic congestion on Reserve Street. With the new Tim Hortons there will be even more traffic and I think the whole situation should be reassessed.”
Mitchell MacDonald