Powell River resident Jerry Eskes had one of his requests to limit logging trucks on Cranberry Street recommended by City of Powell River staff recently. But city staff felt otherwise in regard to his other recommendations, as did city council.
When the issue of logging trucks rumbling down from the Haslam Lake and Inland Lake area through a residential neighbourhood was brought to the committee in May by Eskes and a group of Cranberry ratepayers, their argument was centred on safety. Large logging trucks use the stretch of road, which is also a route for local traffic, pedestrians and cyclists.
A report recently released by city staff sided with the truckers.
“Although there may be an alternate route for logging trucks, such as using the much lengthier forest service road, it is still the most direct route available,” the report stated. “For commercial vehicles the existing truck route is the only option.”
City staff rejected all of the requests from Eskes’ group, except for reducing the speed limit on the road section in question on Cranberry Street to 30 kilometres per hour.
“I was disappointed to see on the city’s staff report that they had rejected all of our requests but the one to reduce the speed limit on the short, dangerous stretch of Cranberry Street,” said Eskes. “They seemed more focused on the wear and tear on Cranberry than on the real issue of pedestrian and cyclist safety. I was pleased, however, to see that council did not accept this and instructed the staff to also install the pedestrian warning signs and the hidden driveway signs.”
On the ratepayers request for weight restrictions and permitting of logging trucks, the report stated that the city has no means to monitor or enforce weight restrictions. The group also asked for sidewalks; that was rejected as well.
“This option would require a sizable budget,” the report stated.
The issue of logging trucks on city roads is not restricted to Cranberry and needs to be resolved by having a proper truck route through the city, according to Eskes.
“If not, I cannot see the people of Cranberry accepting this situation,” he said, “and I am hoping that the city realizes this.”
