This week, Whitehorse city council decided against installing traffic lights on Hamilton Boulevard at McIntyre Drive.
It’s a good decision.
As noted by councillor Doug Graham, the speed limit has been reduced and the Hamilton Road reconstruction is slated for completion this fall -Â provided there are no more blasting mishaps.
That’s going to reduce traffic flow on that stretch of Hamilton, which, combined with the lower speeds, should reduce accidents at the intersection.
It’s far better to wait than spend more than $220,000 slapping up another set of lights 500 metres from the last set. That seems ridiculous.
A better solution might be to dust off plans to install a second roundabout at the intersection.
There is plenty of grumbling about the roundabouts, but they work.
Most of the complaints are sparked by the 20-minute window during the weekdays, when the 8 a.m. rush backs up traffic at Elijah Smith Elementary.
But the Hamilton extension should alleviate that.
And, outside of that rush, the traffic circle has slowed vehicles in front of the school and kept them moving without the annoying full-stop brought about by that traffic light at Hamilton and Valleyview.
The city’s other traffic circle, on Robert Service Way, hasn’t caused much of a stir.
If the reduced speed limit and road extension don’t do the trick at the McIntyre intersection, council should take another look at the traffic circle option.
There were 14 accidents at that intersection last year.
It’s a surprising statistic. The intersection is wide open, with good, wide open views in both direction.
But drivers did race along the stretch, encouraged by the wide, divided road.
Now the speed limit has been dropped, and waiting to see the effects of that decision before slapping up lights is a prudent decision. (Richard Mostyn)
Run for Mom
The donations are still being tallied, but the annual Run for Mom has already raised $39,400 for breast cancer research.
The money has come from individual donations, schools, Tim Hortons cookie sales and several community fundraisers.
It is a staggering sum from a relatively small community.
Recently, the hospital bought a much-needed mammogram machine with previous donations.
But, despite the generosity and effort, it took eight years to buy that one piece of machinery.
The fundraising is important, according to Val Pike, chair of the Run for Mom organizing committee.
There is other equipment the hospital can buy to make it easier and faster to find and treat breast cancer, she said in a release.
That, of course, raises questions about why community fundraisers are needed to buy expensive hospital equipment that could improve diagnosis and treatment of this terrible disease almost immediately. Surely, there’s a saving to the Health Department to get good equipment quickly.
But perhaps that’s another issue.
It shouldn’t diminish the incredible effort and generosity of the community, which has stepped up to help curb the pervasiveness of this disease.
Those who have done so much for this worthy cause should be congratulated. (Richard Mostyn)