Lighting a problem on Roblin Boulevard

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This article was published 21/10/2011 (5198 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A longtime Headingley resident says he wants the rural municipality to install more street lights along Roblin Boulevard to help reduce the number of deer-vehicle collisions in the area.

Terry Hashimoto, who has lived in Headingley since 1975, said the lack of street lights is jeopardizing the safety of motorists on Roblin west of the Perimeter Highway.

He said the lack of lighting makes it difficult for drivers to see deers crossing the busy roadway at night.
“This is a very wealthy municipality and I just can’t understand why they don’t place more lights out here,” Hashimoto said.

“Not only has the traffic along the highway increased tenfold since I moved in, but all the development in the area has forced the deer population in the area to have to move around a lot more.”

Hashimoto said he became even more concerned about the situation one night last week when he witnessed a collision between a car and a deer while driving to his home in Breezy Bend.

“For the last month or so these two little deer have been running around our neighbourhood and one night when driving home from picking up some Halloween stuff for my son, I saw one of the baby deer get hit by a driver coming from the other direction,” he said.

Hashimoto got out of the vehicle following the incident to check on the young buck. He was horrified when he discovered that the animal was still alive.

“The deer was still kicking,” he said.

Hashimoto moved the deer to a ditch and hoped that it would quickly succumb to its injuries. When he went to check on the deer the next morning he was startled to find out that it was still alive on the side of the road.

“I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “I called Manitoba Conservation right away and thankfully they came out quickly and took care of the problem.”

Hashimoto said he hopes that making his concerns public will prompt the municipality to install more street lights along Roblin. Although additional lights won’t eliminate the problem, they would make it easier for drivers to spot deers crossing the road.

Headingley Reeve Wilf Taillieu said current lighting on Roblin meets current provincial highway safety standards.

However, he said is willing to discuss the issue if it is raised by members of Headingley’s municipal council.

He added there are a number of factors that would have to be considered prior to installing additional lights including installation and maintenance costs.

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