Editor:
The recent tragic accident and loss of life on our so-called highway (Goat Trail 101) highlights the ongoing urgent need for a new real highway. The current winding road through busy residential areas is neither safe nor adequate for today’s traffic. There are hundreds of side roads and driveways opening directly onto the busy road. It is a situation made for an accident waiting to happen, as unfortunately has occurred.
The Ministry of Transportation has long been promising a Corridor Study of the Sunshine Coast Highway. Sadly, this seems no closer to being released, although originally scheduled to be completed many months ago. Recently SCRD director Donna McMahon reported: “On May 1, MOTI advised SCRD staff that they haven’t received the final corridor report from the consultant due to ‘setbacks’ (including COVID-19, of course). And there’s no word yet on how they intend to roll this review out to the public.”
How much longer do residents of the Sunshine Coast have to wait for the B.C. government to take our situation seriously? As the ministry dithers with yet another study, traffic continues to increase, trucks thunder along the narrow goat trail, accidents and near misses continue and, sadly, deaths occur.
Now is the time to act. The continual delays and stonewalling by Minister Trevena and her staff must stop. There have been too many accidents and deaths, not to mention the pain and suffering of so many who experience the near misses that happen every day, because our little road was never designed to be a highway.
“The Sunshine Coast Needs a Highway.” We hope your readers will add their voices to the clamour for change and join our campaign. See www.SunshineCoastHighway.ca
Robin Merriott, Sunshine Coast Highway Society
