Editor: Re: Woman killed in Hwy.
17 crash, April 16 This tragic accident at Highway 17 and 52nd Street has prompted me to voice my concerns, which are shared by many of my fellow residents of South Delta.
There have been several horrible accidents along this stretch of road. Upgrades must be done to Highway 17 for the safety of all concerned.
Thousands of vehicles travel this highway to the B.C. Ferries terminal, going both to and from Swartz Bay, Duke Point and the southern Gulf Islands. Why is it that on Vancouver Island there are excellent highways with overpasses servicing the ferry terminals? On this side, double the traffic passes through yet we have a completely inadequate and unsafe road.
Every day, one sees drivers speeding to catch their ferry, actually shaking vehicles waiting for the turn signal at 56th Street. As well, there are no proper merge lanes at 52nd Street and Highway 17 going east
and at Highway 10 and Highway 17A going west. Over 10 years ago at a public meeting in Tsawwassen, with a minister of transportation present, these safety issues were put forth by residents to no avail.
We need overpasses at both 52nd and 56th streets and we need them as soon as possible. Surely it is not too much to ask for a proper and safe thoroughfare for both ferry traffic and local residents. And soon there will be additional traffic going in and out of the new shopping centres being built nearby.
If these improvements are approved, it will take time for implementation. May I suggest that in the meantime the speed limit on this part of Highway 17 be lowered to 60 km/h. Also, while waiting for overpasses, proper merge lanes should be created.
This highway falls under the jurisdiction of the province and the RCMP are responsible for traffic safety. Perhaps enforcement needs to be stepped up.
The Delta police have a high presence around our
school zones and residential streets, ensuring drivers stay within the limits. What about both cars and huge, often heavily laden trucks whizzing through our community at speeds often exceeding 100 km/h? Traversing these intersections is a terrifying experience for careful drives. Let's get the conversation going on this.
Beverley Moore
