Residents of Brookside Village want Town of Barrhead councillors to help a shrubbery they believe to be a serious traffic hazard.
They believe it is only a matter of time before there is a serious accident as a result of the shrubbery at the corner of Manola Road (53 Avenue) and 46 Street blocking line of sight.
A delegation from Brookside Village Condominium Association shared their complaint with Town of Barrhead councillors during their Oct. 23 meeting.
“Om both sides, there are either large hedges or a tree that blocks people’s vision who are trying to turn either direction onto Manola [from 46 Street],” said association president Joyce Venables, adding that as a result, people have to inch well past the sidewalk to see oncoming traffi.
“Which is dangerous enough, but when you add in the speed people are travelling, especially coming from the west, there is the possibility of an accident there and potentially a bad one.”
Adding to the hazard, she said drivers who are turning left off of 53 Avenue to adjacent side streets have a tendency to cut the corner and drive partially in the oncoming traffic’s lane.
Over the years, many residents have complained about people speeding on Manola Road.
In 2016, former town councillor Ryan Warehime suggested a four-way stop be installed at the same intersection the association is concerned about.
Venables said that ideally, her solution would rid the intersection of greenery.
“I know that isn’t going to happen, but at the very least they need to be really cut back,” she said.
Association treasurer Sue Porter said he greenery was trimmed about two years ago, but it did not take long until it grew back.
An association member in the gallery agreed, saying the solution was to cut the shrubbery back from the sidewalk, noting it would also solve another issue of what is becoming a sidewalk that is impossible to walk on.
“The sidewalk was put in about two years ago and basically because of the overgrowth is impassable,” she said.
“If you cut everything back you will get your sidewalk back.”
Mayor Dave McKenzie said their administration would investigate their complaint and hopefully they would be able to find a solution, noting it could be as simple as talking with the landowners and coming to an accommodation on the size of their vegetation.
As for changing people’s driving habits, that could be more difficult.
“I have spent a considerable amount of time in my life trying to get people to drive properly,” he said.
“If people would understand that their steering wheel turns more than a quarter of the way and be more responsible drivers, we could eliminate a lot of the problem. It’s not just that corner, it is everywhere,” he said.
“The problem isn’t so much the landscape but how drivers negotiate it. If drivers would drive properly according to the Alberta Driver’s Handbook, then it solves the problem.”
Street condition
The association also brought forward their concern on the condition of the main street going into the complex, noting the road is a combination of asphalt and concrete.
“The asphalt is good, but on the south side, it is concrete, and there are areas where there are holes and a lot of our residents are seniors that use walkers and canes. It is a real hazard and we would like something done because the last thing they need is a fall,” Venables said.
Porter interjected the other issue is the poor lighting in the area. She said a few years ago the types of bulbs were replaced.
“I’m not sure what it is, but the new light bulbs do not put out the same amount of light. It used to be quite bright on the sidewalks and part of the problem people are having is they can’t see well enough to differentiate what is a tripping hazard,” she said.
