Many area residents are speaking up expressing their hopes that substantial changes can be made to dangerous intersections in the area.
The Mail reported in the September 11 edition that Alberta Transportation has published a survey asking if a four-way stop could improve the safety at area intersections. Many responded to the story, telling The Mail, more than a four-way stop is needed.
Bob Boyd lives just east of the intersection of Highway 9 and 21. He says there are accidents daily. While improvements to the intersection were put in place when the road was replaced, he still feels it is dangerous.
“It has fixed it a bit, there isn’t quite as many accidents, but it still needs an overpass,” said Boyd. “A four-way stop isn’t going to do it because people are still going to blow through a four-way stop.”
Area residents are asking the province to consider creating overpasses over two of the Drumheller area's most dangerous intersections; Highways 9/27/56 and Highways 9/21. Last week The Mail reported Alberta Transportation is conducting a survey to see if residents are in favour of making the intersections four-way stops.
The improvements to the intersection included fixing sight lines so the intersection and the intersecting traffic lanes can be seen from further away. Despite this, it is still tricky to navigate.
“We tell people when they are coming from the west they have the right away, but slow down any way because one time out of ten, drivers are going to go right through the stop sign, or stop, look right at you and pull out,” said Boyd.
Joan Roe commented on The Drumheller Mail’s story last week. She lost her son at the intersection of Highway 9 and 21 in July.
“I feel strongly that something needs to be done at these intersections. I am just not sure that four-way stop signs are the answer. The local area residents are used to Highway 9 being a straight through road, I can see the line up of traffic in the summer on Highway 9 and someone being in a serious rear end accident,” she commented. “I still feel they need an overpass at Highways 9 and 21.”
Some comments did support trying a four-way stop. Cindy Thomas feels it is worth trying.
“If these intersections were four-ways stops, the odds of at least one of the drivers stopping are that much greater. I say do it! How much can a few signs cost, compared to the cost of a life?”
Steve Wannstrom is Munson’s Fire Chief and also feels it is worth a try. “If you go further north in Alberta you see these four-way stops all the time,” said Wannstrom. “It must work up there, we might as well try it down here.”
The department often responds to collisions at Morrin Corner.
“One is too many and all that happens is we end up packing dead bodies out, and that is hard on our members and their families," said Wannstrom.
