Boyle Village council wants Alberta Transportation to lower the speed limit on Highway 63 adjacent to the Village.
Council issued a letter to the department, asking them to extend the 80 km/hr speed limit from north of the Highway 831 junction to west of Market Road (Range Road 194).
“On Highway 63, there’s confusion with the 80 (km/hr limit) and the 100, so we’ve asked Alberta Transportation to straighten it out,” explained Mayor Bob Clark.
Currently there is an 80 km/hr speed limit on the southwest portion of the highway that includes the CN railway crossing, the Highway 663 intersection, and the Millar Western ‘jug handle’.
However, the speed limit jumps to 100 km/hr as it reaches the 831 junction.
The curved junction poses a danger as a large number of trucks turn left from the highway to get into town. As well, left-turning traffic is often backed up whenever a train blocks Highway 831.
The letter was sent in order to speed up the review process and get a response by the time councillors meet with Alberta Transportation at the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association conference in Calgary on Sept. 23-25.
Traffic sign changes
Boyle drivers should keep their eyes peeled for changing traffic signs on First Avenue and Willow Drive East.
There was some confusion whether trucks could park on First Avenue because of a sign that says, “No trucks over 3 tons” on the intersection of First Ave and Third Street.
“If the intent is not have trucks over three tons on the street, then the sign’s in the wrong place,” stated Charlie Ashbey, Village of Boyle chief administrative officer. “Being where they are, they don’t serve much purpose, because by the time a truck sees the sign, he’s already driven (in) and has to finish going through the street to get out.”
Overall, Ashbey said the intent of the sign was unclear.
“Does it mean no trucks can drive on there, that are over three tons? Is it to prevent them from parking or prevent them from driving?” he asked.
Councillor Don Radmanovich said it was likely to keep semi-trucks from driving through and he didn’t see a problem if the trucks used the road.
“I look down that street everyday,” Radmanovich said. “The only time I see trucks stopping there or parked is when they’re either running to the liquor store or they’re running to the bank. They’re there five, ten minutes and then they’re gone.”
Council decided to remove the signs from the road.
However, a new yield sign for southbound drivers will be going up on Willow Drive East, north of the Aspen Grove mobile home park.
A nearby resident had recently expressed concerns that traffic exiting the mobile park may not yield to traffic on Willow Drive East, and could cause a collision, but Ashbey said the majority of traffic from the mobile park doesn’t use that road.
“The reason I brought it forward is that I think we should remove the ambiguity,” he said.
Another macerator application
Council has decided to reapply for funding for its long-anticipated macerator upgrade.
An application will be made to the Alberta Community Resilience Program, which supports community, infrastructure and watershed projects.
The $260,000 project was recently rejected by the Small Communities Fund late last month.
