Shoal Harbour Drive is well travelled, there is no doubt about that. The road itself was never designed for the load of traffic that is on it currently - let alone into the future. Some arguments have been raised regarding if the road should or should not be the main road - the fact of the matter is however that regardless of what should have been, Shoal Harbour Drive is now the de facto main artery for traffic from the Bonavista peninsula and Shoal Harbour valley to upper Clarenville. Traffic volumes will only continue to increase over the next few years and the road must be made to meet this challenge. Something must be done NOW to make that road capable of more safely handling the traffic on it.
With the reworking of lower Harbour Drive owing to problem pavement (see my blog post COUNCIL DOOVERS -
http://ourtownclarenville.blogspot.ca/2013/07/councils-overdue-do-overs.html ) , and the development ongoing in the Parkview subdivision, now is the opportune time to fix some big problems in a cost effective way - all that is needed is foresight and will.
1) Eliminate the Harbour Drive and Hutley Intersection Dip.
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| This picture is taken in the "dip" and looks at the Hunley intersection from the crosswalk |
There is a dip in the road as you go east of Huntley drive. This dip hides the view of traffic coming from the east and it also impedes driver's ability to see anyone crossing the crosswalk going west. This dip can be filled and cut accordingly before new pavement is applied - increasing safety.
2) Add turning lanes to Parkview/Clearwater subdivisions and make a single entrance and exit path for each.
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| A driver coming down Shoal Harbour Drive, rounding the turn - at the speed limit - will not have enough time to react if left turning traffic is allowed going into the new Parkview subdivision - especially if there is no turning lane installed |
With the increased volume of traffic on Shoal Harbour Drive and the growing number of exit/entrance points, Turning lanes have become a necessity. Further, to enhance safety with minimal inconvenience, the designation of a single exit and a single entrance would reduce congestion, reduce the number of accidents and reduce the cost of installing lanes.
3)
Add sidewalks/pathway right along Shoal Harbour Drive.
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| No Sidewalks connecting new subdivisions to each other and the trail mean people are discouraged from walking and if they do walk it is at their peril |
An increased number of subdivisions will inevitably mean more people and more walkers. There needs to be sidewalks that lead somewhere and a pathway/sidewalk that links the subdivisions along Shoal Harbour Drive is key to doing this . Additionally the installation of flashing lights on the crosswalk is overdue.
4) Pave the "leaders" onto the trailway.
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| A paved leader into the trailway would reduce rocks on road and give trailway riders fair warning of an intersection. |
Paving 20-30 feet of the trailway on each side of a road crossing would improve safety, visibility and reduce the number of slip-inducing rocks that are being deposited on the sidewalk and roadway.
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