Reference: Improvements to address safety concerns on Watkiss Way (Correspondence)

Reference: Improvements to address safety concerns on Watkiss Way.

Members of council,

Improvements are not required to Watkiss Way from West Burnside Road to the west. The article in the Goldstream Gazette states council is contemplating improvements and spending $55,000.00. This money would be better spent elsewhere.

Watkiss Way is a wide road with excellent sight lines and a speed limit of 40KM west of Burnside. It is well lit for a rural road. The comments from Ron Mattson and Ron Armstrong are without merit and do not reflect the conditions of this section of Watkiss Way. Council Members and Committee members should use good science/tools to establish facts, not perception.

This Council has wasted enough money on so called improvements, all implemented without evaluating the situation or even using good judgement.

• Round-a-bout on Helmken south of the Island Highway. What were you thinking? You couldn't drive a full sized car around it. How much did that cost to build then remove?
• School zone on Watkiss Way. You have spent 10's of thousands of dollars on that zone; painting on the road, then re-painting with the same paint that failed the first time, then rubber raised lettering, speed indicator sign, school zone signs and why? Eagle View School address is 97 Talcott Road. The school is 200 meters from Watkiss Way. That section of Watkiss way has 50 meters plus horizontal unobstructed views. This school zone has the best driver sight lines than any I have ever seen anywhere except Saskatchewan. The original sign "30 KM When Children are on the Highway" is all that is needed.
• Removal of the two through lanes north on West Burnside Road at Watkiss Way. What were you thinking? Two vehicles used to be able to pass through the intersection at the same time. Now traffic has backed up by at least one third more. Majority of the cars turn west on Watkiss Way at this intersection. North bound through traffic has to wait an extraordinary amount of time to pass through when they used to be able to move quickly through using the right lane.

I can go on, but it is clear this council needs to look at how they make decisions. Maybe you should all use some of the $55,000.00 from the proposed Watkiss Way improvements to have your eyes checked. In my mind that will be the best use of my tax money yet.

Don't even think about removing bushes around the Goose Trail. Obviously you didn't notice that the amount of bush on the trail is at its least, through this section. Birds use these bushes for nesting, protection and are a habitat for the food they eat, bugs, berries and seeds. Families of Quail rely on these bushes. I have noticed a marked reduction in the numbers of Quail in the past few years because of domestic cats in the area. Spend the money controlling pets that run free.

Ray Lapshinoff 2558 Magnum Place.