KINKORA — Farmers were reassured Wednesday night that a new roundabout being installed just outside of Kinkora will not impede their operations.
The Department of Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy held a public meeting in Kinkora to give details about the project and answer any questions community members might have.
Stephen Yeo, the department’s chief engineer, told those in attendance that the structure being planned for the intersection of the Newton and Scales Pond roads is designed with farming in mind.
“The whole concept here is not to disrupt agriculture,” said Yeo.
Local farmers have expressed concern about their ability to manoeuvre their larger machinery through the intersection.
Yeo assured farmers that the department will work with them to ensure there is enough shoulder room on the ditch sides of the roundabout to get their machines through. He also said signage and lighting features will be installed in a way to also negate their impact as impediments.
According to the provincial government, between 2006 and 2015 there have been 19 crashes, including four fatalities, near the intersection. Those incidents, in addition to a relatively high volume of traffic on the roads, prompted the addition of the roundabout. The intersection is currently a four-way stop.
There have been mixed feelings about the idea of a roundabout at the intersection.
Some residents see it as an unnecessary waste of money and would rather see larger, more visible stop signs and rumble strips installed, among other less expensive solutions.
“You’re out of your minds,” said one resident. “I paid my taxes ... and I don’t like what I paid. What you’re using it for is garbage.”
Yeo said the department considered those kinds of measures but determined they generally do not work well at high-speed intersections like the one in question. Roundabouts force cars to slow down, and it’s almost impossible for drivers to miss them.
“If people would pay attention to stop signs, I wouldn’t be here tonight — but they don’t,” he said.
Opposition MLAs Jamie Fox and Brad Trivers were both in attendance at the meeting. Both have been critical of the province for not holding a consultation meeting like that one prior to stakes for the project going in the ground and a decision to move ahead already being made.
In addition to installing the roundabout, the province plans on shaving off part of a nearby hill and raising the intersection by about five feet to improve sightlines.
The tender for the project closed last week. The lowest bidder was about $900,000.
The province hopes to start construction of the roundabout in early July.
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