Drivers will have to slow down on 48 Street in the coming weeks.
Okotoks council voted on March 12 to reduce the speed limit on 48 St. from 80 km/hr to 60 km/hr between Green Haven Drive and 338 Ave.
Kelly Stienwand, Okotoks municipal enforcement manager, said the road had been on the Town’s radar to review after annexation was complete. He said, complaints and concerns from residents of Rancher’s Rise and the Air Ranch neighbourhoods bordering 48 St. brought it to the forefront.
“The current speed of 80 km/hr on that roadway pre-dated the residential areas that had developed up there and that are continuing to occur,” said Stienwand. “We had a look at this roadway and after doing a significant review the data showed that a reduction to 60 km/hr would be the appropriate step in this case.”
One of the greatest safety concerns raised by residents was the proximity of 48 St. to back yards and the possibility of a vehicle leaving the road and going through a chain link fence, he said. The ditch along the road was measured as having a 20 to 25 per cent rate of slope, which he said is not so sharp that a vehicle would roll or have a hard time recovering if it were to leave the road.
“We’re fortunate we haven’t had really any accidents out there that have found a vehicle come in contact with the back yards of these homes at this point,” said Stienwand. “We feel this is a very proactive step and it’s justified. It actually contributes to the safety of this roadway, and we feel the proximity of these residential areas definitely justifies it.”
Trina Boyd, who lives in Green Haven Estates with her family, said she agrees with the reduction in speed limit – but not for the same reasons.
“People who know the roads like us know it’s 80 km/hr, and a lot of people from town don’t know it’s 80, so they go 60 [km/hr] and it’s getting frustrating,” said Boyd. “I think it would be better if everybody has to go 60.”
She said her husband disagrees, and would like to see everyone just pick up the pace and travel 80 km/hr Boyd said she hasn’t found any real danger along the stretch of 48 St. behind Okotoks residences.
“The only danger I’ve ever felt was at the stop sign at 370 Ave. and 48 St., because you just slide right through it,” she said. “Other than that, speed-wise, I’ve never felt unsafe.”
She said the homes are pretty close to the road, but not so close they should feel at risk with traffic moving behind them.
According to the report provided to council, the distance between the road and the fence line is 10.89 metres, which Boyd said is plenty of room.
“I don’t think of it as any more dangerous than any other road in town, because there’s still quite a bit of distance from the actual road to the their fence,” she said. “I’ve known people who hit deer and spun out and they’re still only in the ditch, they’re nowhere near their fence.
“I’ve never really thought of it as a danger if there’s an accident.”
