Traffic along Extension Rd. was routinely seen going between 10 to 18 kilometres per hour over the posted 50 kilometre per hour speed limit. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

slowing cars

‘It’s just constant noise:’ Extension Rd. traffic calming looks to cut excessive speeding

May 3, 2021 | 9:59 PM

NANAIMO — Long-suffering residents along a major road south of the city are one step closer to a quieter neighbourhood.

A public consultation process will begin to decide on traffic calming along Extension Rd., a known hot spot for speeders and impaired drivers.

Barbara Thomas, assistant manager for transportation with the City of Nanaimo, told Council on Monday, May 3, the area is ready for additional measures based on speed and traffic data collected last year.

“Extension Rd. is a major road so we are leaning towards options that give the impression that the road is narrowed or use methods to narrow the road,” she said.

An analysis of traffic volumes on Extension Rd. were done throughout July 2020 in the weeks following a near miss for a family who had a truck crash into the corner of their house, driven by an impaired driver.

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Five points along Extension Rd., ranging from Chase River elementary to near Cinnabar Dr. were monitored with average speeds ranging from 60 kilometres per hour at the north end of Extension Rd., to 68 kilometres at the south.

City of Nanaimo data showed vehicles are travelling between 10-18 kilometres per hour above the speed limit along Boundary Rd. (NanaimoNewsNOW)

The public consultation phase will determine exactly what traffic calming looks like for the region.

Options available to residents range from further signage and education to a narrowing of the road or installing speed bumps.

Thomas said speed bumps would require additional talks with transit operators and emergency services as they impede quick access to a growing part of Nanaimo.

“We would not typically install speed humps…on a major road. That is supported by our traffic calming guidelines that don’t typically apply vertical deflections on major roads.”

Thomas also cautioned against installing stop signs, a question raised by Coun. Don Bonner. She said stop signs on major roads are not an effective way to calm traffic and result in cars rolling through them.

James Denby, a local Extension resident who has long campaigned for additional measures in the neighbourhood, said he was skeptical about the path chosen so far by the City.

He’s eager to pitch ideas during the upcoming public consultation process.

“It’s nice to see they’re going to implement something out there. I don’t know if the aspects of what they hope to implement are going to be making any changes to the driving habits unless they actually put something in like a roundabout or a couple of speed bumps.”

Denby added hearing speeding traffic at all hours of the night is common for residents along the corridor.

The road connects the city to the Nanaimo River area, a popular spot for parties and dirt biking.

“We sleep with our window open at night and all the way throughout the night…you can still hear cars, motorcycles, dirt bikes, it’s just constant noise from excessive speeding. There’s even some tracks left on the road from people doing burnouts.”

RCMP previously told NanaimoNewsNOW in July 2020 the area was well known to them and subject to spot enforcement.

“We target that for enforcement, but we also need to hear from neighbours when they have a concern about a particular area,” O’Brien said.

Public consultation with the neighbourhood will begin over the summer, with recommendations due back at the Council table in spring 2022 before installing traffic calming measures in the summer of 2022.

Join the conversation. Submit your letter to NanaimoNewsNOW and be included on The Water Cooler, our letters to the editor feature.

alex.rawnsley@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley