Upon reading about the City of Vernon spending $5 million on the PV/39th Avenue roundabout, I question the infrastructure priorities.
I thought the four-way stop improved the safety of that intersection and wonder if that $5 million could be better spent on the goat trail called Eastside Road.
Eastside leads to six distinct parks and lake accesses that are wonderful trophies for the city.
The problem is taking one's life into their hands for a simple excursion.
The dilemma is the city wants developers to fund the improvements and the entrepreneurs balking at the cost. A classic catch 22.
In the meantime, every user is at risk.
No bike lane for a premier destination bike park or five beaches from Harbour Heights south puts the city liable for an unsafe route.
Ellison Park is an international must see for campers. I can only imagine the RVer conversation on the drive out wondering if they'll make the next corner or plunge into the lake avoiding a cyclist.
On the plus side, campers can pick up some roadkill for their other grill. If only pot (holes) were outlawed again.
My friend Larry is worried about landslides. And if a busload of kids crash, well expect to see me at the next council meeting.
The other beautiful drive around our jewel, Tronson Road, had a substantial upgrade over 10 years ago. They have the highest property assessment in the city as well as the preferred city contractor at the end of the road.
It was quite a technical project with the rock faces and sewer (done twice) and completed as well as could be expected. Good on them.
The amount of money frittered away on Eastside seal coating, pot holing and actually refurbishing a few hundred yards of roadbed above the Smith Road on top of $5 million for a simple intersection could go a long ways to actually fixing a serious hazard.
I have had the privilege to live on both roads and don't particularly want to be inconvenienced, nor do my neighbours advocate for more development out here.
But this road is flat out dangerous and a liability.
The solution is for Vernon to get off it's duff, put the whole road to Ellison out for bid and have any future developers post DCC for their section
Jay Langton
