Editor:
Re: the letter from Mr. Proctor, traffic signal badly needed (Coast Reporter, Sept. 17), I completely agree. We need serious flow and safety improvements at Reed and North roads.
Let me try and be clear - once again. The Provincial Highway - Route 101 - carries up the bypass from the ferry terminal to Stewart Road along to North Road (including the intersection of North and Reed roads) and then continues west at Gibsons Way.
The traffic calming to which Mr. Proctor likely refers is on Highway 101 - primarily on Gibsons Way. Despite this road being in the Town boundaries, it is wholly the jurisdiction of the provincial Ministry of Highways. While it abuts our boundaries, the intersection of North and Reed roads is really the province's mandate.
That said, I can assure you the Town and Sunshine Coast Regional District are actively working with Mr. Bernard Abelson from ISL, a traffic engineering firm, and the Ministry to address this problematic intersection. A roundabout has been suggested as a low cost and effective solution.
Letters like Mr. Proctor's help the Town make its case for improvements and I encourage folks to write the Ministry of Highways and copy the Town. We will certainly continue to let the Ministry know where public sentiment rests on these issues - a major component in the catalyst of change.
Mayor Barry Janyk
Town of Gibsons
