Lakefield Herald Special Report

DD considers sidewalk issue

by Simon Conolly

Douro-Dummer council discussed the possibility of constructing sidewalks on Strickland Street during Tuesday evening’s council meeting.

A letter was received from John Milligan of Rolliston Street on June 25 stating that sidewalks would be beneficial to Strickland Street for safety reasons.

Milligan listed five points of concern:

1. Drivers coming off Hwy. 28 are still in a high speed mode and signage does little to slow them down;

2. There is a blind S-curve at the intersection of Strickland and Prospect and drivers can’t see pedestrians;

3. The road narrows at the Strickland-Rolliston intersection;

4. There are two blind hills on Strickland; and

5. The Lakefield Primary Healthcare Facility will increase traffic on the road.

Linda Moher, Clerk and Planning Coordinator for Douro-Dummer submitted a report on Tuesday evening addressing the issue.

Moher stated that the project is not in the township’s five year construction plan but with the construction of the medical centre they may have to consider moving the project forward.

Moher went on to say that the Douro-Dummer and Smith-Ennismore-Lakefield boundary is just east of the Strickland Street and Rolliston Street intersection. Although there is no formal boundary road agreement with SEL any reconstruction would have to be a joint project.

Moher recommended that Harold Nelson, Manager of the Public Works Department monitor any traffic concerns which result from the new medical centre and consult with the SEL Manager of Public Works to determine a time line for the reconstruction of Strickland Street along with the possibility of extending sidewalks.

It was also stressed that a formal boundary road agreement be inked between DD and SEL.

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