East St. Paul to use speed display boards

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This article was published 21/08/2020 (2042 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Motorists on Birds Hill Road now have some electronic help to make sure they drive within legal limits.

On August 10 the Rural Municipality of East St. Paul announced it will be using speed display boards on Birds Hill Road. The move comes after the Province of Manitoba began allowing their use on provincial roadways within municipal boundaries starting June 1.

“There was a desire from many municipal leaders to have the province allow for the placement of speed boards on roads and highways that are a provincial responsibility,” East St. Paul mayor Shelley Hart said. “We’re pleased the province agreed and worked with us to make this important change, it will help keep our residents safer. We thank (Minister of Infrastructure Ron Schuler) for his work on this initiative.”

Municipalities have requested more authority over provincial roadways running through their boundaries. In 2018, delegates to the Association of Manitoba Municipalities convention passed a resolution calling for that control, a move which led to the June 1 change.

Other rural municipalities and towns have benefited from increased control over sections of provincial roadways. Beausejour has oversight of sections of major roadways and works with local businesses to develop unique attractions such as roadside patios.

The RM will also be using speed display boards in areas throughout the municipality and reminds residents to obey posted speed limits and drive according to weather conditions to help keep everyone safe.

The digital signs will be used elsewhere in the municipality and will be a welcome tool as kids return to school, Hart said.

“There are schools and playgrounds in the municipality and more and more people using active transportation modes to get around so we want to ensure everyone is safe. Slowing down and abiding by the speed limits helps,” Hart said.