Road Site Is 'Accident Waiting To Happen'

Written by Rob Abramenko 107.5 KISSFM  Thursday, 01 March 2012 02:13 
  Several members of Vernon council support changes to a dangerous part of Okanagan Landing Road. Council has received a 118-name petition calling for a pedestrian bridge to be built on the south side of the road across the creek by Myriad Road, noting safety problems with the concrete abutments and crosswalks.  Council will discuss the issue at its next meeting, but councillor Juliette Cunningham who drives by that area every day, would like to see changes. She tells KISS FM, "The location of one crosswalk is very dangerous because you don't see it when you're heading one way.You don't see people standing there very well, and people are driving very quickly along that road." Okanagan Landing Road resident Fred Keber told council, it's just a matter of time before there's another serious accident, saying a woman was killed while walking on that road in December. Keber, who is legally blind, said, "I hope council will take a look at what can be done. It's an accident waiting to happen." He says residents most affected are from Okanagan Breeze, Snowberry Breeze, Dallas Road, Myriad Road, Osprey Road, Quail Road and Chukar Road. Councillor Mary Jo O'Keefe says there's a clear need for changes. "I'm interested to see what recommendations staff will come back with that could maybe alleviate that problem. Moving the crosswalk done to where there will be future lights (at Dallas Road) makes some sense to me as to opposed to where it's currently located." City staff say the options for the site could range in cost anywhere from $30,000....to a million dollars.