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Letter: Highway and road safety needs to be addressed

Let’s not wait for tragedy to strike before addressing these issues
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Penticton Western News letters to the editor.

I have three requests; two for the highways department and one for the city.

Let’s start with the city. There needs to be a crosswalk installed on South Main Street by Skaha Park where the campground is with the green fence. On no less than three occasions, I bore witness to children almost being struck by vehicles while attempting to cross the street.

To the highway department, I once again must ask you to address the far right hand lane on Eckhardt Avenue between Westminster Avenue and Riverside. I have seen many close calls between people turning right on Riverside and others illegally merging onto the highway utilizing the far right lane. It is a right turn only lane, and is not properly marked as such. Another arrow needs to be added nearer to Westminster Avenue so that drivers can actually see that it is right turn only, and not a merge lane onto the highway. Also, please paint the words “Right turn only” on the pavement as arrows seem to confuse some people.

My last request, and this was suggested to me by my neighbour Paul, a set of traffic lights at the corner of Highway 97 and 3A. Truckers must cringe every time they have to attempt the left turn from 3A onto 97 north. With two lanes merging into one southbound on Highway 97, drivers have a tendency to race to jockey for position, causing unnecessary risk for motorists. I think it is a brilliant idea, as it will not interfere with the normal flow of traffic because there are no other traffic lights around the vicinity.

It is our collective responsibility to ensure the safety of the traveling public. All three items I have mentioned are all accidents waiting to happen. Let’s not wait for tragedy to strike before addressing these issues. Please.

Mark Billesberger

Penticton