Highway 2A collision sparks safety concerns of intersection
By Cindy Ballance
Editor
A three-vehicle collision on Tuesday, Dec. 14 has raised concerns of the safety of Highway 2A.
According to Cst. Keith Roblin of the Okotoks RCMP, a northbound vehicle was stopped on Highway 2A preparing to make a left hand turn on to 338 Avenue near the Okotoks Animal Clinic on Tuesday at 5:30 pm. A northbound truck collided with the vehicle which spun off the road. However, the truck then veered into oncoming traffic and collided with a southbound vehicle.
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Bystanders assisted in the accident by phoning emergency services and providing warm clothes to the victims. 'The bystanders were awesome,' said the passenger.
Daniel Penner, 39, of Calgary has been charged with driving with undue care and attention.
Roblin said there was only minor injuries in the collision, however, the incident has raised concern of the highway.
He added that two of the four recent accidents on that highway were caused by the inattentiveness of drivers to vehicles turning off the highway. '(Drivers) have to be more attentive,' he said.
With the increased amount of traffic on the highway and its high volumes of commuters, especially during peak hours, Roblin said, drivers need to be more aware of what is happening around them.
Infrastructure services manager Richard Quail agreed saying that the Town of Okotoks also has grave concerns with the highway, however, steps are being taken to improve the conditions. 'The Town of Okotoks has been advocating to upgrade that intersection as soon as possible,' said Quail.
Together with Alberta Infrastructure, the town has extended its construction contract for the Highway 2A upgrades set to commence in the spring of 2000.
Included in the construction plan is an extension of construction to include that intersection and half a mile north of the intersection.
Quail explained there will be dedicated left turn lanes at the intersection and acceleration lanes for vehicles coming off the truck route and going north. '(Within Okotoks there is a feeling that we) must include that intersection because it is very dangerous,' said Quail.
In the meantime and with the amount of traffic on Highway 2A, the average annual daily traffic on Highway 2A at the Sheep River bridge was 22,660 (as of May of 1999), Quail reminded drivers to pay attention.
In addition, Quail added this advice, 'Motorists need to be reminded that when stopped and anticipating a turning movement, motorists should never turn their wheels until they are making the turn.'
Quail said keeping the wheels straight will avoid the motorist from being pushed into oncoming traffic if rear-ended.
The Colours of Christmas
Grade 2 students at Percy Pegler Elementary
School in Okotoks perform a colorful rendition of 'The Colors of Christmas' during
their annual Christmas concert held on Thursday, Dec. 16. Many Foothills schools
performed Christmas concerts this year and delighted parents, siblings, family and
staff over the holidays. For more photos see inside this Western Wheel, the Greetings
and the Dec. 29 issue.
photo by Cindy Ballance
Sour gas well denied for Priddis/Millarville
By Gillian Beckett
Staff Reporter
Priddis/Millarville area residents are breathing a sigh of relief after a proposed
sour gas well was recently denied by the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB).
On Dec. 15, the EUB denied an application by Stampede Oils Inc. to drill a Level
1 sour gas well in the Priddis/Millarville area.
A lthough the EUB believes there is a need for the sour gas well and that Stampede
Oils Inc. has the financial and technical capability to drill, complete and operate
the well safely, the board was concerned that a number of public issues and concerns
were not being met such as emergency response planning.
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'We hope this decision will make the companies take notice and meet the community's needs.' -- Jeri Kerluke, chairperson Whiskey Hill Owner Alliance |
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'This is good news for us,' said 11-year resident Jeri Kerluke, chairperson of the
35-member Whiskey Hill Owner Alliance (WHOA) which is an organization of residents
who have been fighting the sour gas well development for almost two years.
'Hopefully the rest of the companies (who have applied or plan to apply for sour
gas well licences) will realize we mean business,' she said.
Kerluke added that the way in which Stampede Oils Inc. conducted their public consultation
process as required by the Energy Resources Conservation Act was unacceptable.
According to a press release issued by the EUB, it stated that, 'Stampede failed
to address the site-specific concerns and special needs of the community that were
identified, including, but not limited to, a riding facility for children with cerebral
palsy and their families, and the evacuation of people and animals (in relation to
emergency response planning).'
'We did not have a lot of trust with Stampede,' said Kerluke. 'In the meantime, we're
asking that (oil and gas companies) take the proper steps with (public consultation).'
'We hope this decision will make the companies take notice and meet the community's
needs,' she added.
While the EUB has not yet received a re-application by Stampede Oils Inc., it is
expected that the company will re-apply for a licence to drill in the area.
In the meantime, applications by Startech Energy Inc. and Berkley Petroleum Corp.
to drill sour gas wells in the Priddis/Millarville area have yet to be finalized
by the EUB.
