Stuck on Stickle

By Kate Bouey - CASTANET Jun 24, 2016 / 3:30 pm

A traffic signal at Highway 97 and the notorious Stickle Road, north of Vernon, appears to be the preferred option among members of the public despite efforts to find a different solution, according to a transportation ministry spokesperson. However the ministry is still going through the approximately 150 comments from feedback forms, email and regular mail, submitted during and after a May 26th open house. A total of 234 people attended. At that session, ministry officials explained their $9.5 million plan, which does not include a traffic light for the intersection where there has been a number of fatal accidents. The ministry plan included changes to both the intersection and an extension of 20th Street from behind the Rona store through to Stickle Road. Acceleration and deceleration lanes were proposed for the west side of the highway. “We are still going through all of the comments but the majority of public responses seem to indicate a preference for a traffic signal,” said Kate Mukasa, public affairs officer. “This is important for us to know and, as we stated in the materials presented at the open house, public input will be considered along with technical, environmental and financial information, and input from local governments.” The ministry stated that once all the input is reviewed, the next steps would be considered.