Curbing accidents in Conway

By Jonathan Riley

DIGBY COURIER

NovaNewsNow.com

There have been too many accidents in Conway.

That’s the opinion of municipal council and Digby’s Fire Department and RCMP.

“We haven’t had anything serious yet,” says Digby fire chief Robert Morgan, “But chances are, it’s only a matter of time before someone gets seriously hurt.

“It’s a concern of ours, the high number of accidents we attend there. Speed may be a problem combined with all the starting and stopping.”

Emergency personnel were called to two motor vehicle collisions near the lights close to exit 26 in early January.

On Jan. 8 three vehicles collided when one car slowed down or stopped in front of MacDonald’s. On Jan. 19, two vehicles collided at the lights and one of those cars struck the light pole and caught fire.

Digby’s police, fire and licensing committee, chaired by councillor Bob Handspiker, is sending a letter to the Dept. of Transportation suggesting they lower the speed limit on highway 303 in that area.

They suggest the limit be reduced to 50 km/h from its current 60.

That area of Conway actually lies in the jurisdiction of the Municipality of the District of Digby but warden Jim Thurber says of the town’s letter, “That probably wouldn’t bother me too much.”

The municipality held a regular hour-long meeting with the department of transportation on Monday, Feb. 4.

The municipal council also raised concerns about accidents in that vicinity,

Council asked the department about an extensive study from five years ago that looked specifically at that area of Conway.

That study did not mention speed limits but did suggest the addition of a third lane or turning lane.

It also suggested a different traffic pattern where the Flatiron Road splits off highway 303 in front of the bowling alley.

Council would like to see the department consider which of the recommendations could be implemented to improve safety.