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Puslinch considers new speed limits on Lake Road

Reconstruction of road a chance to change speed limits
20230301-lakeroad-jg
Council is considering changes to the speed limits on Lake Road.

PUSLINCH — Puslinch council is suggesting alternatives to the township's road master plan that suggests increasing the speed limit on part of Lake Road.

The speed limit is currently 50 km/h. The Road Master Action Plan approved last year suggested 70 km/h.

Speeding on that stretch of road has been an issue.

As construction on Lake Road will be finished this construction season, council is preparing for changes.

“This roadway, we’ve been hearing all the time about the speeding and I’m sure for the residents that live on the west side of that road it’s probably very frustrating for them to see that the speed limit is actually proposed to being increased,” Coun. Jessica Goyda said at Wednesday's council meeting.

Coun. John Sepulis suggested an alternative approach to the speed limit along that part of the road.

“Rather than have it go from 70 down to 50, put a transition area. You go from 70 to 60 to 50. In other words, give the drivers the opportunity to slow down as they approach the area that has a lot of residences,” Sepulis said.

Municipal clerk Courtenay Hoytfox outlined the suggestions council will be putting forward to the county. This is a county road. So the county has control of these matters.

“Council direct staff to request that the county report to council prior to approving a speed bylaw, and comment on the proposal for the addition of a three way stop at Travelled Road and Sandy Shore Boulevard, and comment on the proposal for a graduated speed option for Townline Road to the residential area,” Hoytfox said.

Adding the stop signs will force drivers to slow down and stop instead of travelling through the area at a high speed.

Council discussed incorporating a test period for any changes.

“Before initiating some sort of bylaw could we have a pilot project that’s a little window where we can suggest some of these items, like we keep the speed at 50 and see how it goes for six months,” Coun. Sara Bailey said.

Mayor James Seeley added a request to see the county roads committee in one or two months to discuss a pilot project for the speed limit changes.

Jesse Gault is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program.