Parents, teachers, RCMP, and many others are asking motorists to slow down and pay attention to the traffic lights in front of the new St. Anthony’s School.
As the new location of St. Anthony’s School races towards completion, concern has been raised about motorists passing by on North Dinosaur Trail.
For months now residents and tourists alike have passed under the new traffic lights set up at the intersection by the new school and the Fun Land Amusement Park. The traffic lights were put in place a year ago in anticipation of the school’s earlier completion estimates.
Problems with the original contractors forced Christ the Redeemer School Division to find a new contractor early in 2011.
The new completion date has been announced. Teachers will have February 27 and 28 to move their classrooms, and the first day of class in the new school will be February 29.
Parents have raised a safety concern regarding the traffic lights.
“It was brought forward at our parent council meeting. A couple of our parents activated the lights, walked across, and then noticed that drivers were driving through the red light,” said St. Anthony’s School Principal, Tim Gregorash.
Indeed, the presence of a constant green light at the intersection has conditioned many drivers to ignore it altogether.
“Because it’s green and never been activated, people aren’t looking at it,” said Gregorash. “People are not used to paying attention to it.”
Other questions that have been raised are whether the speed limit will be reduced near the new school and if there will be any early warning system to alert drivers if there is an incoming red light.
“The speed limit is not going to be reduced, it’s staying at 70 km/h,” said Gordon Wilton, from Alberta Transportation. Wilton also explained that there are currently no plans to install early warnings sign.
“It was not the system I recommended. I wanted a different system, but that’s what they put in,” said Staff Sergeant Art Hopkins of the RCMP.
The Town of Drumheller had recommended early warning lights be placed leading up to the new traffic lights.
For the time being, education and enforcement will have to make those lights safe for the children at St. Anthony’s School. Staff Sergeant Hopkins stated there would be an increased RCMP presence near the school when it is open.
“We’ll be educating our parents and children about crosswalk safety, like don’t cross until vehicles are completely stopped. It’s basic education of everybody, because that is a new light,” said Gregorash. “We’ll make sure that the kids are safe, that’s our number one priority.”
