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Collisions keep piling up

It’s less than a month since I wrote a column about the dangers of the highway between the Tappen Esso and the Tappen Co-op…

It’s less than a month since I wrote a column about the dangers of the highway between the Tappen Esso and the Tappen Co-op and here I am all over again.

That’s because news of two more collisions this week, one on Thursday and the other on Saturday, both with serious injuries to the people involved, has made me upset and angry.

Luckily, no one was killed.

This time.

In my last column I noted that ICBC was reporting 33 crashes in that section of highway between 2008 and 2012, which was the most recent data available. Clearly the number has gone up since – and by two more since my previous column was published on Sept. 17.

In that column, I also went on to point out upgrades to the highway at Tappen don’t appear to be on the radar for the next 10 years.

An email from The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure says Highway 1 near Tappen is one of the sections being “considered” for an upgrade through the government’s $650 million 10-year commitment to four-lane the highway between Kamloops and the Alberta border.

But nowhere is it identified as a priority on the ministry’s website and that does not bode well. It seems highway upgrades move at a speed just slightly ahead of geological time.

Maybe a stop-gap measure would be for the ministry to erect some signs or a flashing light warning this is a high-accident area. Then at least some drivers might pay a bit more attention. It might be better than nothing in the short term.

I’m fortunate to have this public space to vent my frustration at the situation; many others have taken to Facebook to air their concerns about the area and the lack of action from government.

It was suggested numerous times that people with concerns send letters or emails to MLA Greg Kyllo and Todd Stone, the minister of transportation. Our MP, Colin Mayes could be lobbied for funding dollars for the national highway.

It was also suggested that copies be sent to CSRD Area C director Paul Demenok, who could provide a municipal voice to the higher level of government.

There were other more dramatic suggestions including the installation of homemade signs at that area of the highway, staging a public protest or even blocking off the road to traffic for a time to draw attention to the situation. I sympathize with  citizens who feel their voices are not being heard by those with power to make changes.

I too urge residents to take a few minutes and raise their concerns with their elected officials by phone, letter or email. They are motivated by public opinion, so sharing that opinion needs to be top priority. I’ve decided to mail this column to them all as well.

I’m fed up with being ignored. And I don’t want to be writing about this on a monthly basis.