Editor:
Regarding the possible opening of Largo Road, connecting Highway 101 with Lower Road: This concerns me as a safety issue, as it will create an unmarked and unexpected left turn against traffic. There will inevitably be rear-end and probably head-on crashes, especially when heavy ferry traffic pressure is on the road. Many drivers won’t know there’s a new turn at Largo and won’t be expecting people to stop there.
At one time I lived next to Bals Lane in Gibsons, when it was being used as a ferry traffic short cut to avoid Gibsons village. Every two hours, ferry traffic raced through the neighbourhood, speeding up that narrow lane to beat the competition. The Town of Gibsons finally blocked Bals Lane, but only after much complaint from local residents.
Why should local residents have to be the ones to ensure proper traffic planning is done? Why doesn’t the Ministry of Transportation take responsibility and initiative to do a proper, in depth, public traffic report for such a large and drastic change as Largo Road? Such as, the cost of a left-turn lane and flashing light at the least.
As soon as this route becomes tagged on GPS and Google Maps, it will become the de facto shortest route to Lower Road, even for tourists who don’t know the area. This is not just a problem for locals; it’s a traffic safety issue for every driver using the highway, which is becoming less adequate to handle growing peak traffic volumes.
Graham Walker, Roberts Creek
