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Permanent speed humps coming to Nanaimo’s Ross Rd.

Feb 22, 2018 | 4:58 PM

NANAIMO — A pair of speed humps are coming to a central Nanaimo road after a successful trial of the traffic calming measure.

Two permanent speed humps will be installed on Ross Rd. between Howden and Emerald Drives. A City staff report said the average speed for 15 per cent of traffic fell from 64 km/h before the trial to 50 km/h during.

Jamie Rose, the City’s manager of transportation, said the trial was well-received by locals, noting he was even stopped on the street and thanked by an area resident during installation.

He said they don’t have an exact timeline for installing the permanent humps but it will likely take place in the spring when the weather improves.

Coun. Sheryl Armstrong voted against installing the permanent feature, noting she received about a dozen emails from concerned residents on Uplands Dr. who noticed an increase in traffic, especially in the school zone, as people avoided the Ross Rd. humps.

Rose said the City only received one comment to that effect, noting Uplands is a higher class of road and also has a complete sidewalk on at least one side, which Ross Rd. does not.

Councillors also offered suggestions of where they’d like to see the temporary speed humps installed next. Coun. Bill Bestwick mentioned Boxwood Rd., while coun. Gord Fuller wanted them at Nicol and Needham.

Rose said they don’t have any plans at this point for a trial of speed humps in another area of the city. He said decisions on placement of traffic calming measures are typically made based on feedback from the community.

He said the City receives a lot of complaints about speeding but they generally try to take an educational approach by working with RCMP and placing a speed reader board.

In the case of Ross Rd., residents made a few phone calls and then a petition requesting a traffic review, which found speeds were beyond the acceptable safety threshold.

There are currently speed humps on Oliver Rd., Place Rd., Opal Rd. and Kenwill Dr., Rose said.

It will cost a little more than $6,500 to install the permanent humps on Ross Rd.

 

dom@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @domabassi