Thursday, September 11, 2008
By Roszan Holmen - Saanich News
Published: August 07, 2008 12:00 PM
In response to frustration from neighbours along accident-prone Sayward Road, Coun. Vicki Sanders is calling on residents to offer ideas on how to make the road safer.
She’s asking anyone concerned to meet her at the bus stop on Fowler Road near the end of Sayward for a brainstorming session at 2 p.m. this Saturday (Aug. 9).
“It’s to put a face to the issue and see if there are simple solutions that can be done in the interim to perhaps make it a little bit safer,” said Sanders.
Sayward is a two-block stretch of road starting at Patricia Bay Highway with a steep downhill grade, ending with a sharp right-hand curve into Fowler.
Residents say drivers routinely speed down the narrow road, which has poor visibility. The Cordova Bay Community Association is calling for a T-intersection featuring a stop sign at the bottom to help slow the traffic.
Paul Butterfield, engineering technician for Saanich, said the statistics don’t indicate the section of road presents much of a problem. Since 1996, there have been eight accidents (three reported by police and five by ICBC) at the Sayward-Fowler curve. He admitted, however, that the statistic doesn’t account for all the screeching tires, something nearby residents say is a big problem.
In 2007, Saanich police logged nine collisions along Sayward. Five happened at the crest of hill in winter and were weather-related, said Sgt. John Price.
Adding to the road’s problems, Sanders said, is the fact that many drivers turn onto Sayward from the highway travelling too quickly and continue at speeds not suitable for a residential area. Falling under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transportation, the highway has been earmarked for an interchange onto Sayward Road.
For now, however, Sanders is looking for simpler solutions to help slow traffic heading into the troublesome curve.
“It’s amazing how neighbours can come up with solutions on signage and can point out to people who don’t drive the road all the time what they see as ways to make it simpler.”
