Getting across, turning left or even walking along Highway 101 at Roberts Creek Road is about to get easier and safer as the province has agreed to install a traffic light at the busy intersection.
Powell River-Sunshine Coast New Democrat MLA Nicholas Simons learned the project got a green light during a recent meeting with minister of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) Shirley Bond.
"I met with the minister last week. She was pleased to be able to tell us that. I think there are going to be a lot of people pleased with this, because that intersection can be kind of dangerous," Simons said.
He said he first took to championing the project after hearing from Grade 7 students at Roberts Creek Elementary School.
This summer, Simons accepted a petition with more than 400 names organized by Roberts Creek resident Yvone Mounsey and delivered the petition to the legislature in September.
"I think it was a combination of community members raising their concerns. A lot of people signed the petition. That brought a lot of attention to the issue," Simons said.
He pointed out that previous studies by MOTI did not recommend any traffic calming measures for the intersection.
"I don't understand how this government works, but I'm pleased when it works in favour of the community, and on those occasions I will thank them for that," he said.
Roberts Creek fire department chief Bruce Searle has also been pushing for a light at the intersection to help make it easier for fire trucks coming from his station to get onto the highway.
Bond said there is no definite date for the light to be installed, but the design is already underway and it should happen sometime in 2010.
Both Simons and Bond said they were especially proud of the Grade 7 students for getting the issue started.
"I told them it could be a good opportunity to learn how government sometimes makes decisions based on the needs of the community and it was a good example of how they could see how that works. Now they have seen that when the community speaks loudly and clearly, it's possible that the government will actually listen," Simons said.
Bond said the Grade 7 students' request and the petition did not directly lead to the decision, but they did help drive MOTI staff to re-evaluate the intersection.
"I asked my staff to go out and review the operation of the intersection. And we looked at traffic volumes and accident history. The staff came back and said, looking at that evidence, certainly a traffic signal was warranted and we're really pleased we can move forward on that project," she said.
Mounsey welcomed the news from Simons, saying it will make the intersection a safer one to use for all.
"It was all about safety. Who is it going to benefit? It's going to benefit mostly people who are wanting to cross or make turns on and very importantly, pedestrians crossing for the bus," she said.
Mounsey thanked Simons and the people who signed her petition for getting involved.
The light will cost about $200,000 to install.
