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Speak Up

Woodstock's public works committee laid out plans to make a portion of nine town streets smoother and is considering options to make one street rougher.

In its report to council at Monday's regular session, the public works committee identified which streets will get a new layer of blacktop as part of the $313,500 capital works paving program for 2008.

The committee also reported it will study options, including potential speed bumps, to calm traffic along St. James Street.

Streets in line for new pavement include a portion of Deakin Drive, near Connell Street. Woodstock chief administrative officer (CAO) Ken Harding said the $74,000 spent on Deakin can be considered "preventive maintenance."

He explained Deakin Drive took a beating from heavy truck traffic during construction of the Carleton Manor. He said the pavement on the heavily travelled roadway is showing major signs of deterioration.

Other streets getting new pavement this year include Orange Street; the new portion of Eastwood Drive; Bicentennial Extension; a section of Broadway; Garden Street; Division Street; Charles Street, from Houlton to Water Street South; and the unpaved portion of Poplar Street.

"As we do every year," said Coun. Jim Cluff, who chairs the public works committee, "we tried to divide the paving on both sides of the bridge."

Coun. Peter Kennedy, who chairs the finance committee, noted funding to pave Poplar Street will come out of the Industrial Park Reserve Fund.

This summer's capital projects include $47,000 to install curb and sidewalks on Orange Street where, said Harding, crews already completed the installation of a new storm-sewer system.

While the public works committee debated which streets would get a new smooth surface, it also had to respond to complaints about traffic racing along the straight, smooth surface of St. James Street.

Some homeowners living on the long tree-lined residential street complained to council about speeding drivers putting residents, especially children, in danger. Harding said the committee looked at a variety of "traffic calming" options and discussed the issue with City of Fredericton officials.

He said the committee decided to spell out the options to St. James Street residents. Among the options to be considered would be speed humps; strategically placed asphalt grooves; children-playing signs and a reduced speed zone. Harding said no option is ideal, pointing out speed humps could slow traffic but create aggravation for some motorists.

"One of the things we heard loud and clear from Fredericton," Harding said, "the most common thread when it came to speed humps is that people who like them, like them, and people who don't like them, REALLY don't like them."

On a final note, Harding told council one of the town's largest summer street projects – which involves work on Main Street as part of the provincial designated highway program – is moving along on schedule. Part of the project – although without provincial government funding support – involves the installation of traffic lights at the corner of Deakin Drive, Main Street and the Grafton Bridge exit.

Harding said the work should be completed by Aug. 1.