ERIN – The Town of Erin will spend $300 on signs designed to slow the speed of drivers on 5th Line through Cedar Valley, just west of Hillsburgh.
Residents of the hamlet appeared before council on May 21, requesting a range of measures to combat speeding and dangerous driving, including larger signs with lighting and radar, speed bumps and a 40km/h speed limit.
After investigation, road superintendent Greg Delfosse came back with a recommendation to install four signs reading “Drive like your children live here”, and to request more attention from the OPP.
”I’m recommending the first line of defence, which is better signage to bring some public awareness to the issue, and working with the OPP to do a little more enforcement in the hamlet, prior to taking more drastic steps with lit signs and radar signs,” he said.
Council approved the plan on June 18 with a provision that staff consult with residents and the OPP in about four months to determine if more steps are necessary.
Resident Marlene Kawalez said that since their May appearance before council, residents have seen an increase in speeding and danger to pedestrians.
The current plan to pave the 5th Line from Wellington Road 22 through Cedar Valley, as a detour while the Station Street bridge and are being upgraded, will still proceed.
The town had planned to correct a sign issue; the speed limit in the town bylaw was 60km/h, but the posted limit on signs in Cedar Valley was 40km/h.
While the bylaw has not been changed, the speed limit remains posted at 40km/h.
