Traffic dilemma
Town considering extra parking near school
One frustrated resident near New Glasgow Academy welcomes a recommendation before council to add new parking spots near the school.
Ivan MacDonald, who lives on the corner of Lorne and Albert streets, said he’s terrified his son, who is in Grade 3 at the school, will get hit by a vehicle while coming home.
“If it does go through, I think it would be a great idea,” he said.
Council is considering a recommendation from town engineer Earl MacKenzie to add up to 24 parking spaces near New Glasgow Academy. During their regular meeting Monday night, the recommendation was deferred to budget talks.
The proposed concept from MacKenzie looks at adding angled parking by the townowned field on the corner of Albert and MacLean streets. It also recommends adding a sidewalk around the field, a new fence and a turning lane off of Albert onto MacLean without affecting an existing utility pole and fire hydrant.
A rough estimate for the cost of the project is $140,000, though MacKenzie noted this is not a detailed estimate and the recommendation is still just a concept.
“It’s something for council to consider,” he said. “They’ll have to weigh this with other projects in the town (and decide), is it worth the expense to create 24 parking spots?”
Earlier this month, resident Elaine MacLeod spoke to council regarding traffic concerns near the school.
MacDonald said despite new no-parking signs in some areas, drivers are still taking spots they shouldn’t.
Some of the surrounding streets are already narrow, he said, and he believes the way people are parking is making the area dangerous.
MacKenzie said 24 spots would go a long way to relieve congestion and parking issues, and noted this option would also add spaces for people using the field.
MacKenzie said the concept he’s presented to council is a three-week job, and if it were approved, they would look to have it done before the school year in order to minimize disruption.