More Comments on the Danger of the Rail Trail at H'way 21

The Great Area Farm

13/01/2009 04:25 PM

Norm Charbonneau, owner of Hi-Berry Farms located mid-way between Southampton and Port Elgin next to the recreational Rail Trail, came forward to council on Monday with concerns over traffic and pedestrian issues.

At the Hi-Berry Farm location, the Rail Trail is forced to cross, or is disrupted by, a busy section of Hwy. 21 where there has been an apparent increase in traffic volume as the town of Saugeen Shores develops.

According to Charbonneau, he "...cannot count the number of close calls that I have witnessed at this intersection.  I have seen groups of young children racing their bikes across the road to beat speeding traffic and have seen motorists slam on their breaks to avoid hitting a pedestrian whom they did not see until it was almost too late."

Charbonneau took an independent initiative and contacted an engineering firm, Gramsby and Mannerow in Owen Sound, to ask them to look into options or solutions, that could include building a pedestrian bridge over Hwy 21.

The firm confirmed that a bridge could, in fact, be constructed at an estimated $700,000.  Engineer, Brent Willis, explained that this stretch of highway was being considered by the Province for four-lane development and the cost suggested allowed for that contingency. 

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Charbonneau recommended to Council that, at the very least, a feasability study be done to examine this, or other, options, at a cost  of approximately $70,000.  So strongly does Charbonneau feel about the situation, that he  pledged $10,000 toward its development.  He also said that, in 2009, Hi-Berry Farms would be giving away reusable cloth bags for donations and that all the monies raised would, in turn, go to the project.

"I am bringing this forward and putting this money on the table because I am very concerned that if we do not take action soon to make this crossing safer for both pedestrians and motorists - someone will be seriously injured at this location.  This, I think is something that none of us wants to see happen."

Referring to the request for a feasibility study, Mayor Mike Smith said that, "We will see in the spring at budget time."

The Saugeen Times has written a number of articles on this subject.  Please see: