YARMOUTH COUNTY - Priorities and road states were discussed at the Municipality of Yarmouth’s Sept. 12 committee of the whole meeting.
Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal operations supervisor Don Houston and area manager Pamela Mehlman Shand were on hand to respond to questions.
Councillor Loren Cushing wanted to know when gravel was last put on the Bayview Road, Houston replied that it had been about seven or eight years.
Cushing says the Cranberry Head Road needs to be done as well.
“There’s a lot of water that runs down that hill there,” he said.
Replacement of missing traffic signs was also discussed by councilors.
Houston says the department has placed two orders for 50-60 signs.
“I know we’re going to have double that before we’re done. We’re in the middle of doing that right now.”
Councillor Trevor Cunningham brought up the topic of an exit for the Greenville Road on Highway 101 to provide access to the business park.
“This is something that council has written to the province about. Allowing the business park the value of having an exit for the site is a critical piece of infrastructure,” he said. Councillor Gerard LeBlanc wanted to know why brush cutting has not been done recently through North Ohio, Lake George, Pitman.
“You can’t see the traffic when you’re getting out of your driveway,” he said.
Houston says there’s no way they can all be done this year.
“We’ve already got a plan in place for what’s to be done with the bushwhacker but any place with sight distance problems for residents on any section, I’ll have the guys go out and cut it by hand.”
Councillor Patti Durkee asked about the possibility of paving the Darlings Lake/ Short Beach Road, widening shoulders in Sanford and Main Shore Road from highway 1 to Port Maitland Beach, putting gravel on Spider Street so people can walk on it, and maintenance of gravel roads.
In response to queries about the possibility of paving gravel roads Houston says there are no plans to pave any within the province until the department can get a handle on existing asphalt.
Councillor Daniel Allen says some residents have approached him with concerns about the Melbourne road corner, just before the intersection to Little River.
“On the lower side, it’s breaking down. We’re getting into fishing season and there’s a new campground on the road. There’s a lot of concerns about that corner, just feeling that it’s a little unsafe,” he said.
“The first house right after is a little concerned that if a vehicle goes off that corner it’s coming in their yard.”
Deputy Warden John Cunningham wanted to know if spring road closure dates could be adjusted.
“Can we possibly close ours a little bit earlier and open them earlier whereas other parts of the province are not freezing and thawing by then?”
A list of specific concerns provided by councillors was relayed to Houston and his staff. He has agreed to have a conversation with councillors around local concerns and share department initiatives four times annually.
