Gilford Road speed reduction may be granted
By Chris Simon

Vehicles travelling along Gilford Road could be going a bit slower soon.

A town committee approved a plan to lower the speed limit along the street, west of County Road 4, during a recent meeting. If approved by council, the limit would be lowered from 80 kilometres an hour to 60.

There are few reasons to speed along the stretch of road, especially since it leads to a dead end, said deputy mayor Gord Wauchope.

"Why would anybody need to go 80 down a dead end road?" He said. "I think 60 kilometres is reasonable."

Residents say the current posted speed helps create dangerous driving conditions.

"This is a gravel road that gets graded, has four school buses travelling on it, a number of children (and) adults that bike (and) walk," said resident Connie Kneeshaw in a statement addressed to council. "This speed limit on a dead end gravel road is too high. A number of residents on the road are not happy with this (speed limit)."

Councillor Lynn Dollin says several residents have complained about the speed some vehicles travel along the road.

"Part of the confusion around this road, when we took it over in 1991, was that it was never signed (properly)," she said. "With the width and condition of the road, it would be dangerous to drive on."

However, town staff say only about 122 vehicles use the stretch of road each day.

"Gilford Road is a local roadway of rural cross section with a gravel surface. The use of 80 is standard for the town on all rural local roads, except where certain specific situations warrant a slower speed," said planning and development director Rob McAuley in a report. "Staff recommend the current speed limit should remain."

McAuley says the town plans to pave the road in 2010. Staff could also place limit signs in more appropriate spots along the roadway, rather than reduce speeds.