Speed limit on Kenaston should be lowered

Bridgwater Forest

My opinion may not be a popular one, but I believe that the speed limit on Kenaston Boulevard (north and south bound) between the Perimeter and the overpass should be reduced. Currently at 80 kilometres per hour, I would like to see it reduced to 60 km/h, similar to Pembina Highway.

The Neigbourhoods of Bridgwater are divided into distinct areas: Bridgwater Forest to the east, Lakes to the west and Trails sitting southwest. Bridgwater Centre sits right in the middle. Then, add South Pointe, Prairie Pointe and now Bison Run to the mix.

What do they all have in common? They are all either 100 per cent residential or a mix of residential/commercial and are bordered on one side by Kenaston Boulevard. Centre is the outlier as it is completely bounded by Kenaston.

While I can appreciate that Kenaston is used a major artery to and from the Perimeter and that we want traffic to flow. Still, more thought should have gone into its design.

Think about it — where are the grocery stores? The coffee shops? Restaurants? The gym? The schools? More importantly, where do their customers and patrons come from?

Odds are that the vast majority are from one of the Neighbourhoods and all have to cross Kenaston at some point.

In the 12 years that I have been a resident of Bridgwater Forest, I have seen my fair share of near misses and I am not referring to all those who turn the wrong way on to Kenaston or make illegal lefthand turns with oncoming traffic.

No, I am talking about those who, instead of slowing down on the yellow light, choose to hit the gas. I am talking about the runners and cyclists who cross on red. I am referring to the students who head to Bridgwater Centre for lunch and play chicken with vehicles on Kenaston. And don’t forget that the closer you get to the overpass, the more that it feels like a race as there are always the drivers who feel a need to get ahead of everyone else.

According to MPI, “Speed limits are designed to reduce risk and are determined by a variety of factors — traffic, pedestrian volume and road design.”

Has the time arrived for it to be lowered? I think so, as the volume of vehicles and pedestrians has increased significantly since Kenaston opened and it should happen before there is a serious accident involving a pedestrian or cyclist.