Lack of painted lines on First Avenue NW frustrates motorists
The City of Moose Jaw changed the traffic flow on First Avenue Northwest last year, but the lack of painted lines to indicate the lanes has caused frustration among some motorists.
The municipality adjusted the traffic pattern there at the end of August by designating one lane going north and south, with a shared centre-left turning lane, starting at Manitoba Street and going to Oxford Street. Instructional signs were posted and lines were painted on the road. However, that paint faded and very little remains. This has frustrated resident Steven Heidinger, who told the that he accepted the traffic pattern change but questioned its timing, specifically, that it happened near the fall.
“Over the winter most drivers have reverted back to the old way, even though it conflicts with the signage,” he said. “Now with the paint gone, there is so much confusion out there with some drivers using old rules and some the new rules.”
This confusion hit home for the Heidingers’ oldest son, who failed his driver’s test twice because of the uncertainty with First Avenue Northwest. The first time, he drove by the old rules since that was what other drivers were doing. The second time, he told the examiner he planned to use the new rules; the examiner docked him points again.
“We then spoke with a driving instructor just recently and the instructor is telling everyone that the old rules are in effect,” Heidinger added. “There is a lot of confusion out there regarding the situation. The city has new signs, yet all the paint has worn off.”
The Express reached out to city hall for an answer.
In an email, communications manager Craig Hemingway explained the change along First Avenue Northwest was introduced as a safety improvement to address sightlines. The change was planned for early 2019, but due to the late summer water main construction on Main Street, city hall did not want to cause further traffic disruption when many vehicles were already being re-routed one block west.
Lines are painted once a year using the current industry standard for road paints, he said. The liquid’s lifespan has decreased significantly, however, since lead has been removed from most paints.
Last year the municipality spent $117,500 to paint lines along First Avenue Northwest, with $42,000 related to labour costs.
“In 2020 it is our goal to implement Thermoplastics at key locations on First Avenue and around the city,” Hemingway added. “Thermoplastics-based paint have a lifespan of between four to six years, but these materials generally cost 10 times more to purchase and significantly longer times to install.”
Wendy Dreger, a driving instructor with Thomas Driver Education, explained that when she asked city hall about these changes, she was told this was a big city idea. However, she pointed out that since Moose Jaw is more of a small town, residents usually revert to what they know since not all change is good change.
“I suggested they send out a leaflet … when you change and make such a major change and the people can’t see the lines, send out a leaflet to everybody. Tell them what it is,” she said.
The confusion around which lane to use has made it difficult for Dreger when teaching her students. New students have caught on easily, while those who were already practising or who needed a refresher course became frustrated. However, she doesn’t believe driver examiners are using the centre lane and have attempted to stay away from that street.
“It’s new. We have to get used to it,” she added, “and I’m just hoping in the spring they paint the lines earlier enough so that everybody can say, ‘Oh, that’s what you’re supposed to be doing.’”
Dr. Lillian Barbara Yoemans, a renowned doctor, born in Montreal, Quebec in 1861, specialized in women’s and children’s health issues. She was surrounded by the problems of the poor, often treating prostitutes, drug addicts and the unemployed. Because she was a doctor, she had easy access to drugs and became a drug addict herself. She knew it was wrong but thought she had it under control until one day she realized drugs were her master and she was their slave. She was taking 50 times more than prescribed by an adult male.
She tried to quit the deadly habit countless times; with at least 57 attempts. It seemed no matter what she did; she could not kick the habit until she was bedridden and placed in a healing home in Chicago in 1898 at 37 years of age. In her many hours of loneliness, she turned to the Word of God and began to see that throughout the entire Bible, healing was a part of every section. As she spent time in the Word of God, one day, she realized she had been delivered from drugs and was fully healed and never did touch them again.
Soon after her healing, she quit doctoring and went to be a missionary to the Cree Indians in the northern part of our nation. Her life was a living testimony of the healing power of God and everywhere she went, she prayed for the sick and taught on healing. In her book, “Healing from Heaven,” Lillian tells of a missionary who went to China who contracted small pox. At that time, small pox had no known cure so everyone was just left to die. She was destitute, quarantined and dying in a foreign country. So, since she didn’t know what else to do, she began to seek the Lord for what to do. The Lord gave her a vision of two baskets: one contained the test and trial (the smallpox). This basket was full. The other one contained her praise. That basket was only half full. The Lord told her that her praise basket needed to outweigh her test and trial basket and when the praise basket was full, she would receive her healing.
Day and night, she praised and worshiped the Lord. Others in her building thought she was delirious. But, she continued to praise God. She praised and praised and praised. She thanked Him for all He’d ever done for her. She lifted up praises for His faithfulness to His Word, for her healing, for His greatness. After several days of heartfelt praise, Jesus showed her that her praise basket was full and she walked out of her quarantined room with no smallpox scars or marks on her body. She had taken what she called “the praise cure.”
C. S. Lewis penned, “Joy is the serious business of heaven.” As I mentioned last week, King David encouraged himself in the Lord. Once he set his mind on praising God, the answer came for the problem he was facing. That makes me think of the saying “Complain and remain. Praise and be raised.” We need to open our mouth and start praising God in the midst of the storm. When you’re praising, God is taking care of things! Things you are facing right now can vanish and leave without a trace when you put the praise cure into effect. No matter what situation you are facing: COVID -19, unemployment, fear, depression, or lack... begin to praise and you’ll rise above every evil plan for your life!
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.