Left Turn Now Heads to Court
By 250 News
Monday, August 24, 2009 03:54 AM
Prince George, B.C. – The opening of the Simon Fraser Bridge’s Twin span was the perfect time for the Left Turn Lane advocates to press their case one more time.
The group “Left Turn Now” has been calling for the province to add a left turn lane from Highway 97 on to Spruce Street so traffic can more easily access the businesses on the north side of the highway between the Fraser River and Highway 16. Engineering reports indicate the turn would not be feasible for safety reasons. But those who want the turn have launched a case in B.C. Supreme Court, calling into question the validity of the engineer’s report.
The advocates have sent another letter to Shirley Bond, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, calling on her to bring about changes that would include the construction of a left turn lane before IDL completes its work in the area.
Minister Bond says there is not much she can say on the matter, especially since it is now before the courts “ I can assure people that I have been advised that over the past literally decade and beyond, that that issue has been considered in a variety of ways, and my number one concern, and that of our Ministry is safety for the travelling public. So that case will proceed as it will, and I’ve been assured that all the due diligence has been done that’s necessary. It’s unfortunate that process (the court case) is under way, but we will have to let it take its course.”
“Left Turn Now,” has applied to the B.C. Supreme Court for an order that the Minister of Transportation's decision not to allow a left turn lane be quashed and that the matter be referred back to the Minister for reconsideration.
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Posted by: He spoke on August 24 2009 7:23 AM
Yet at the same time, can defiantly see the hazards of having an uncontrolled intersection there. A couple of on ramps at upland street, farther from the bridge would probably be safer.
I think that from a legal standpoint, once reports have verified that the intersection would be dangerous, the City and Province would be opening themselves up to a lawsuit from everyone who gets into an accident at the intersection.
Given the choice I generally pick the safer one, of course I change my navigation so that I don't have to go down the Carney street hill in the wintertime too, so I might be a bit overcautious, but with half a million kilometers driven, I am still alive.