Turning lane concerns
Resident worried over proposed road project near Irving station in Baddeck
Jennifer Anderson knows all too well the traffic issues that surround the section of Highway 105 near Baddeck.
Anderson and her husband built a home in 2014 directly across from the Irving/Tim Hortons location, close to her parents’ home.
The Anderson family is concerned about proposed road construction scheduled for this summer near the busy location, which the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal believes will improve access to the business.
The Department of Transportation plans to widen the highway, while also installing an eastbound left turning lane as part of the work, but Anderson doesn’t think the turning lane will solve the traffic problems.
“Yesterday I was on my way to Sydney and I passed trucks (from the Newfoundland ferry) driving over Kellys Mountain and I counted 20-30 transport trucks in one short span of time,” said Anderson.
“It (the turning lane) has potential to protect those people who are trying to turn into Irving from eastbound from being rear-ended while they wait and stop for traffic to clear, but I think any benefit of that is far overweighed by the risk you’re going to see of people pulling out of the business.”
Anderson believes the biggest problem surrounding the traffic flow begins with onsite improvements needed on the Irving property.
“The Irving has what’s called card-lock pumps, so it has the regular gas station and pumps for cars and trucks, but it also has a card-lock pump for transport trucks,” said Anderson.
“The truck traffic in its heaviest time you’ll see the card-lock pumps full and trucks will be waiting to get in, sometimes they’re blocking the Tim Hortons entrance entirely, they may be backed up on the road itself, so that’s the time that it’s mostly unsafe.”
Anderson said with a left turning lane being installed, there should be a speed reduction, but as of now that’s not the case.
“They (Department of Transportation) told me they did ‘traffic studies’ and that their studies indicated that a speed reduction was not one that even with a left turning lane was needed,” she said.
“It’s terrifying for people who are using that stretch of highway … from the perspective of a car who’s trying to turn out (of the Irving station) you’re now looking at crossing over a turning lane, with perhaps vehicles stopped waiting to turn in.”
On Highway 105 in Bras d’Or, traffic speed reduces from 90 km/h to 70 km/h in a location with numerous gas stations, including one with card-lock pumps.
Stephen MacDonald, area manager for the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, said the department met with the Anderson family on March 27 to hear the concerns.
“They’ve questioned some of the design work and respecting their concerns … they’ve been forwarded off to our highway design people and they’re going to evaluate the concerns,” he said.
“We’re working with them, in saying all that, there are also requirements for the design that need to meet certain standards, so we’re trying to incorporate or address any of the concerns they may have.”
MacDonald confirmed the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal has met with Irving on three occasions and although they can’t dictate on-site changes, they have made suggestions for improvements.
MacDonald said he spoke with one of the company’s development engineers on Monday and that Irving is planning some onsite work for the property this construction season.
“I don’t have the full details as of yet as to what their plans are for any on-site improvements,” said MacDonald.
MacDonald expects to meet with a representative from Irving in the next week or two to review the highway design further and to understand the company’s on-site plans.
Irving Oil could not be reached by the Cape Breton Post for comment on Tuesday.
Anderson was upset to find out the department had met with Irving and didn’t consult with local residents.
“I expressed a little disgust with that because as a property owner directly across the road, I would have liked to be present to have my concerns known,” said Anderson.
During her meeting with the Department of Transportation, Anderson was shown preliminary drawings of the highway plans, which included the narrowing of the Tim Horton’s entrance.
“I wasn’t satisfied, and I can say that my neighbours probably weren’t as well,” said Anderson of the meeting. “I don’t actually see what’s being proposed as a solution that’s going to make things safer, I think it’s going to make things worse.”
Meanwhile, MacDonald believes the changes are for the better.
“In my opinion, I think it’s a great improvement for safety — a holding traffic turning design lane versus just two lanes is safer,” said MacDonald.
As of now, there is no timeline as to when construction will begin. MacDonald expects tenders will soon be issued for the road work, however a start date is unknown at this time.