Dear Editor:
The recent automobile tradgedy just south of Yorkton a couple weeks back, brings to mind the stark reality of the dangers that lurk on the highways in the Yorkton and Melville area.
How many more deaths will occur on #10 and #9 highways before the powers to be realize that improvements are necessary. #10 highway from Fort Quappelle to Yorkton was basically constructed as far back as 1967 and for all intensive purposes other then maintenence no major improvements have ever been developed. However in those ensueing almost 50 years how much has industry expanded in those two main centers that now rely on semi traffic to move procusts back and forth to those communities? Did planners in the mid 60’s believe that Yorkton would be the home of two Canola Crushing plants? Or did anyone forsee back then that over 30 or so grain elevators would be closed and consolidation would occur around Melville Yorkton and Canora?
Both my wife and I travel the Melville Yorkton stretch of highway 5, 6 or even 7 times a week because of work and also almost as many times a week from Yorkton to Canora in the summer months. so I believe our observation of traffic flow is as accurate as the counters that Sask. highways put out once or twice a year. Now granted its not just the number of vehicles on these roads that Im raising awarness on but the type and size of vehicles that go up and down these highways that raise my concern.
The highway department did a logical thing a few years back on #10 between Balgonie and Fort Quappelle with the passing lanes being installed. But why did they stop there? Does all the traffic stop and start at Balgonie and the Fort? Absolutely not, at Balgonie traffic is then incorporated onto a twin’d highway. But that is not the case going east. Do the MLA’s from the parkland area not travel these roadways? Do they not read the stats about the high number of accidents in the parkland region? With many if not most resulting in deaths!
I am not laying blame on semi traffic being the cause of these accidents which to often result in deaths. But I am saying that so often semi’s tend to be at the scene because someone possibly tried to pass when the situation may not have been entirely safe. Will stricter enforcement of speed on our highways be the answer? Probably not!
However by installing passing lanes along major routes that have a high intensity of semi traffic may and should significantly reduce accidents caused by vehicles passing when there are to many unknowns. Will the government say that the costs are prohibited? Sure they will untill one of those deaths hit real close to home to those that make these decessions.
At the moment we have civic elections underway in the province. Both Melville and Yorkton have a multitude of candidates vying for a position. However while many of these candidates talk about making there community a safer place, they should also remember that the residents in the respective communities almost all utilize these highways and their jurisdiction is directly responsible for the high amount of semi traffic that we see. So what message will they carry to both the provincial and federal government? Or are they only running to further a personel agenda?
So Keep in mind, this world is in a flux of never ending change and the Parkland area has seen and will continue to see some of the highest rate of change, so lets make all the appropriate changes so not only our communities but our citizens are living in the safest enviorment possible.
Michael Halyk
Melville, Sask.
