Barlow Creek and Quesnel residents may have noticed a new speed limit when first turning onto Highway 26, Barkerville Highway.
“Recently, there’s been a reduction of the speed limit on the Barkerville Highway from the junction of Highway 97 to just past Barlow Creek Elementary School from 80 kilometers an hour down to 70,” said John Massier, the Cariboo Regional District Director for Electoral Area C.
The speed limit was changed by the Ministry of Transportation and Transit, implemented the change was implemented last week. The ministry also implemented enhanced signage in the area that read “Barlow Creek Elementary School Ahead” and “50 km/h when Children on Highway” on both sides of the road in both directions.
“I’ve been lobbying for years to get the ministry to recognize the fact that the elementary school on the Barkerville highway is not safe for the speed zone to be 80 kilometers an hour past that point,” Massier said. “I’ve been trying to get them to put in a regular school speed zone for the section right by the school, and haven’t had much luck. However, this is a step they’ve. taken, and I think reducing the speed from 80 to 70 will make it safer for the students. I’d still like to see them take the next step and put the school zone in front of the school, like every other elementary school in the province is entitled to.”
The ministry said in email correspondance that it “considers a range of factors when setting speed limits. These include roadway geometry, pedestrian type and activity, crash history, land-use context, traffic volume, observed speeds, and many more.”
Recently improvements safety conditions along Highway 26 in the past including: shoulder widening, enhanced signage, clearing and trimming brush and trees to improve visibility.
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