ROCKWOOD – Guelph/Eramosa council has passed a bylaw to reduce the speed limits on four rural roads.
The bylaw, passed during the June 23 council meeting, will see the speed limit on the following roads drop from 80 to 70km/h:
– Woolwich Guelph Townline (entire length);
– Township Road 1 (entire length);
– Paisley Road (from Woolwich Guelph Townline to Wellington Road 32); and
– Fife Road (from Township Road 1 to Wellington Road 32).
The current speed limits were set through Section 128 of Highway Traffic Act based on the municipality’s status as a township in 2002.
As the default prescribed speed for a township, speed limit signs were not installed.
According to director of public works Harry Niemi, the steady increase in traffic volumes, as well as travelling speed, have become cause for concern for residents living on the listed roads.
Niemi told council lowering the speed limit slightly would help with the issue, however he warned that lowering the speed limit too much would “create too much of a variation in those travelled speeds.”
The speed reduction on Woolwich Guelph Townline is being coordinated in partnership with the Township of Woolwich.
A total of 38 new signs and posts will be installed at a cost of $7,730, which will be funded by the public works operations safety line.
Council voted unanimously in favour of the reduced speed limits.
