Thursday, March 28, 2024

Death of senior sparks online petition calling on highway safety improvements near Cobble Hill

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A Change.org petition calling for protected left-hand turns at the three intersections on the Trans-Canada Highway has garnered nearly 3,000 signatures in just two days.

The petition was launched following the death of a 74-year-old driver of a pickup truck after his vehicle was involved in a collision near Hutchinson Road in Cobble Hill.

According to Shawnigan Lake RCMP, the man turned left in front of a dump truck travelling southbound on the Trans-Canada Highway.

The dump truck driver was transported to hospital with unknown injuries.

Chris Lumley, of Cobble Hill Neighbours Facebook group, started the petition days later and said there have been numerous accidents at three interactions in the area over the years.

Lumley’s petition is calling on the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to place left-turn signal lights at Cobble Hill/Kilmalu, Hutchinson Road and Fisher Road intersections.

“The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has been working on Left Turn Warrants for Cobble Hill/Kilmalu, Hutchinson & Fisher Roads for what seems like years now'” the petition reads.

“People have reached out constantly about it, our MLA Sonia Furstenau has reached out about it, and still, nothing has been done.”

Lumley said he’s aware of at least two fatalities at these intersections since last October.

“Personally, I’ve had 6 near misses in the past year alone turning left due to some people running the light,” said Lumley.

“The ministry says that the timeline for the installation of signals at these intersections is not yet determined,” he said.

In an email statement to Victoria Buzz, the Ministry of Transportation said the safety of people on our highways is our top priority.

The ministry went on to say they conducted an engineering review in March at the intersections of Kilmalu, Fisher and Hutchinson Roads and said they would be moving forward with design work for the installation of north and south bound protected left turn signals at the three intersections.

An update on timelines for these improvements will be released following the completion of the designs which is expected later this year.

“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the accident,” the Ministry of Transportation said in reference to the crash that claimed the life of the 74-year-old.

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Victoria Buzz Staffhttps://www.victoriabuzz.com
Your inside source for Greater Victoria happenings. Established in 2012.

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