Residents are concerned about safety as well as dust and noise on a portion of Fifth Avenue West in Battleford. (Josh Ryan/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Road concerns

Battleford residents raise concerns about Fifth Avenue West

Nov 3, 2020 | 5:04 PM

A group of residents in Battleford are concerned about traffic, dust and safety on Fifth Avenue West, and hope to have something done about it.

A representative from the group, Tom Sieben, spoke to council about the matter at Monday’s meeting.

Members of the group who live along the road in Battleford West are concerned about five major issues: the dust from the road, noise from traffic, vehicle speed, the volume of traffic, and a major blind spot at a curve in the road.

“The speed, the noise and the dust being created at times is unbearable to the residents that live directly along this roadway,” Sieben said.

He presented a letter addressed to council signed by 24 residents stating their concerns with the road, particularly a section from Telegraph Road South to the intersection of Highway 40. The Saskatchewan Department of Highways is copied on the letter.

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The gravel road connects to 35 St W. which is adjacent to Highway 40.

The group, from three area multiplex residences, are asking to have the road closed as a solution.

“Since we have lived here the town has graded and done several other Band-Aid solutions that have not fixed this problem; all this has done is increase the amount of traffic,” Sieben stated.

He said motorists use the road as a shortcut to the new strip mall in the area.

The letter indicated paving the road is not the answer.

“That will just cause more traffic, and drivers will ultimately drive faster,” Sieben said.

He said this isn’t the first time the issue has been raised with the town.

Council heard a residents’ committee from the group has some suggestions, such as adding signage to calm traffic, they feel may help improve the situation as a temporary solution, until possibly something more permanent is decided.

“It’s maybe not a fix, but at least it’s a help,” Sieben said during the meeting.

Mayor Ames Leslie said council will need to look into the issue further.

“It was good to hear from the residents,” he said. “I think the town has some discussions to be had, with the provincial government and internally with our own group, to potentially bring forth some solutions,” he said. “[That’s] not saying that the road needs to be shut down or should be shut down. Just that we need to have some further discussions as to what the best path forward will be for the whole community.”

Council asked to have the resident committee’s suggestions sent to the town for consideration.

“The town definitely welcomes any ideas from any residents,” Leslie said.

Leslie added he is aware there is a pending study on the road in question with the Ministry of Highways.

“Definitely we’ll look at this,” he said.

When Coun. Kevin Russell spoke at council he said, “we have to do something, it’s just we have to do the right thing.”

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW