Vernon’s mayor stands alone when it comes a dangerous intersection.
All six councillors have blasted the Ministry of Transportation’s plans for Stickle Road while Mayor Akbal Mund stands firm in his support.
“The reasons for not putting a light at Stickle don’t make sense,” Coun. Juliette Cunningham told ministry representatives Monday.
“We’ve had fatal accidents there.”
Instead of installing a traffic signal at Stickle Road and Highway 97, which has been demanded by many residents and businesses, the ministry is proposing a ban on left-turns at the intersection and a one-way extension of 20th Street into Vernon.
“It’s a convoluted response to a concern raised in the community,” said Cunningham.
Directing comments at a ministry delegation were Councillors Scott Anderson, Brian Quiring and Catherine Lord.
“The obvious solution is a traffic light,” said Quiring, who is concerned about large trucks using the 20th Street extension going through busy commercial and residential areas to reach the highway.
“It will be a disaster. No one will be happy with the solution.”
Lord says the ministry is going against the wishes of the city and the public.
“We’ve heard from residents that this is what they want,” she said of a traffic signal.
Mayor Akbal Mund has indicated acceptance of the ministry proposal, and he isn’t backing down despite council opposition.
“I would love a light but I know it won’t happen. I want something safe there,” he said.
Mund added that most of council did not attend information sessions with the ministry.
“If you pick and choose, and six months later you say, ‘I don’t like it,’ whose fault is that?” he said.
After the meeting, Coun. Dalvir Nahal confirmed she also wants a light at Stickle.
“The way I see it, they (ministry) already had their minds made up about the light and the consultations were just a formality,” she said.
Coun. Bob Spiers also favours a light being installed immediately.
Ministry personnel spoke to council Monday about ways to improve traffic flow in Vernon.
However, one project that won’t be happening any time soon is a bypass.
“Now is not the time to plan for alternate routes,” said Kathryn Weicker, senior regional transportation planning engineer.
“We can accommodate growth in the corridor for 25 years with short, medium and long-term strategies.”
Also not likely moving ahead for at least 25 years is an extension of 27th Street, through Polson Park, to Highway 97.
“If we see a change in traffic and population growth, we can start the conversation and planning for that,” said Weicker.