Heather Latter
Safe Communities Rainy River District is assisting the Township of La Vallee in addressing a safety concern along Highway 613 North in front of Crossroads School.
Despite the area being a school zone, the speed limit remains at 80 km/h, with many vehicles driving by well above it.
“We’ve had concerns with kids on bicycles, and walking to and from school,” noted La Vallee Coun. Freeda Carmody.
While many of the students attending Crossroads take the bus, she noted several who live nearby either walk or ride their bikes.
Since there are no sidewalks or bike trails for them to use, they walk or ride along the shoulder of the roadway.
The school also houses a day care centre, besides its JK-Grade 8 students.
La Vallee council had requested a speed reduction by the school, but was told there was insufficient traffic to warrant considering lowering it.
Enlisting the help of Safe Communities Rainy River District, Coun. Carmody, who is the La Vallee rep with the organization, and co-ordinator Grace Silander set out to monitor the amount of traffic on the road.
They went out on a Tuesday last month and, in the span of 90 minutes, counted 70 vehicles that went by the school.
While MTO said it tracked the amount of traffic last fall, Coun. Carmody indicated it was normal for a Tuesday to have that many vehicles on that roadway.
She added she was not surprised there was a vehicle going by almost once a minute.
“All the gravel pits are down that road, so there are trucks hauling all the time,” Coun. Carmody noted.
“Plus, we didn’t see any pulp trucks out there, but later on we may.”
She said Highway 613 North also leads to Naicatchewenin First Nation, tourist camps, and many homes.
The pair also brought a radar gun along with them, clocking these vehicles travelling anywhere from 75 km/h up to 112 km/h.
“The municipality is very concerned, and rightfully so,” said Silander.
The pair plan to borrow the OPP’s radar speed sign—likely next week—to set up by the school to let motorists how fast they are going.
“It will help bring the knowledge forward that ‘Ya, I am travelling a lot faster than I thought,’” Coun. Carmody reasoned.
She and Silander then will book another day to go back out and again determine the amount of traffic and speeds to see if there is any difference.
“We may do at a different time of day,” Silander noted.
“I’d like to do it when children will be coming or going to school, so the motorist can see what kind of risk the are facing,” she added.
“I don’t know what else we can do from there, but at least we’ll have some information put together for MTO,” said Coun. Carmody, noting La Vallee council again will try requesting the ministry lower the speed limit around the school.
She’d like to see it reduced to 60 km/h. And Coun. Carmody would like to see motorists using extra caution when driving near the school.
“Just drive carefully,” she stressed. “Watch for kids on bikes because the kids don’t watch.
“I know they should, but they are not always as careful as they should be.”
