Wednesday, July 15, 2015

MLA Supports New Stickle Plan

Posted on 7/15/2015 by Pete McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM
The MLA for Vernon-Monashee supports the new plan for Highway 97 and Stickle Road -- even though Vernon council and others have already panned it. Eric Foster calls the protected-T intersection "the best alternative," and a better solution than adding a traffic light. "Nobody can come back and say, "They are doing this because it's cheaper." Believe me, this is considerably more expensive than it would be to put a light in. It would be millions of dollars cheaper to put a light in It's got nothing to do with being cheap or cheeping-out, it has to do with traffic flow and safety," Foster tells Kiss FM. Foster won't call this the "final plan," but says transportation staff doesn't want to slow down traffic with another light on the highway. "There's been comments that nobody's listening. Well, everyone is listening, but the professional engineers and traffic flow engineers are telling us this is the best alternative." The proposal would allow left turns onto the highway from the east side of Stickle Road near Squires Four Pub, but not from the west where there's an RV park. There would be a separate left turn with turn-around access for those motorists. "I'm disappointing that people aren't talking to the professionals and listening to what the professionals have to say on this. This is why we have these folks, to advise us on what is the best method to use, and that's what they've said, "adds Foster who opposed the first plan put forward by Ministry staff. The ministry will hold an open house on the plan July 30th at the Prestige Hotel from 4 to 8pm.

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