Report on Deadly Site Due Soon

Written by Peter McIntyre Thursday, 29 July 2010 09:23 107.5 KISSFM

Vernon's MLA says a number of options will be considered for the dangerous intersection of Highway 97 and Bailey Road, south of Vernon. Eric Foster (pictured) says a BC Transportation Ministry study has been underway since last month when Kelowna resident Kim Todd was killed at the site, the 16th person to die there over 42 years. He tells KISS FM, "They're working on a full traffic study and some history, and I assume some recommendations to the minister." The Vernon Monashee rep says the study should be completed by late August. Foster says adding a left turn safety lane is not necessarily the best option. "In that situation, that extra lane wouldn't have made a difference as it was a southbound vehicle that struck the person coming through the intersection but having said that, a lot of the other incidents might have been prevented by one of those pullout lanes." Foster says the study is looking into the 73 crashes RCMP have attended at the site the last five years. "They're looking into each incident to find out what the causes were because that would determine what action needed to be taken." Foster says a number of the crashes have involved just one vehicle, while some were caused by animals.

Vernon council called for action this week, asking for Foster and Kelowna Lake Country MLA Norm Letnick and Transportation Minister Shirley Bond to attend the site. Foster says he'd be more than happy to go visit the intersection, but adds the technical work is underway. Foster says he can't speak for the minister and council's request to have her visit.