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Vol. 19, No. 42, Wednesday, September 11, 2024 www.LamontLeader.com
Dangerous intersection Lamont County wants to improve safety of rural crossing BY JOHN MATHER Concerns raised by Division Five Councillor Neil Woitas and council during their recent roads tour of Lamont County will see public works reach out to Alberta Transportation to attempt to improve the intersection at Range Road 202 and Hwy. 45. The County would like to fill the ditch at the corner because of the safety concerns it poses. Public Work director Darby Dietz said the issue was as Range Road 202 approached Highway 45 from the south because it turned sharply to join the highway. This has led to some drivers missing the curve and going off the road into the ditch. Woitas told council he had happened upon one accident at the corner, near where he lives, where a vehicle had gone off the curve at high speed
and absolutely crushed the cab of the truck. “I expected to find a dead body,” said Woitas. “But the driver had managed to get to the wheel well before it impacted, saving his life.” Dietz suggested they work with Alberta Transportation to raise the level of the northeast ditch. He pointed out neither a guard rail or jersey barrier would be beneficial, in fact, they could cause more damage if an accident were
to occur. He said an in-house survey would be undertaken and costs to the county would be minimal. He said the County had some material on hand which was not suitable for road use, but would adequately serve to bring up the level of the ditch. He added some grading would have to occur but that could be done by County staff. Woitas said levelling the grade
would drastically improve the intersection. “In the winter drivers can slide down there,” he added. “We have about four to five accidents a year at that corner.” “We have to do something,” he said. Dietz said filling it in would not impact drainage and it would lessen the ramping effect of drivers leaving the road. Dietz said he wasn’t sure Alberta Transportation would agree to fixing the road, but the County would have to ask. Council directed administration to seek approval to raise the grade of the road from Alberta Transportation and it was passed by council. Dietz said once approval was received the County would go ahead with filling in the ditch.
Bad behaviour at EINP forces changes BY JOHN MATHER Noisy campers have forced some major changes to camping regulations at Elk Island National Park. The park has a reputation as one of the best stargazing sites around Edmonton, but increased attendance and bad behaviour has led to changes at three popular stargazing sites. Park staff have been dealing with a spike in noise complaints, illegal campfires and a rash of nocturnal roadkill. “We've made changes just to simply keep people out of these areas,” said Park Superintendent Dale Kirkland in a television interview.
In a bulletin issued Sept. 2, the Park stated, “Pursuant to section 7(1) of the National Parks General Regulations, access to day-use areas is designated as restricted, and no person shall enter or engage in any activity within a day-use area from 2300-0700 the following day.” It outlined the restricted areas were: the Astotin Day Use Area – including the Astotin Lake Recreation Area parking lots, picnic areas, beach, pavilions, washroom facilities, and playgrounds; the Tawayik Day Use Area – including the Tawayik Recreation Area access road, parking lots and picnic area; and
the Moss Lake Trailhead Area – including parking lots and picnic area. It added that EINP had established the restrictions to respect quiet hours between 2300-0700; prevent illegal camping and illegal fires; and support visitor safety. Violation of this prohibition may result in immediate cancellation of your camping permit, eviction from the campground, or charges under the Canada National Parks Act; maximum penalty $25,000. Camping fees will not be refunded. About 250,000 people have visited the park this summer, a 10 per cent
increase from last year, Kirkland said. But the increased traffic over the past two summers has led to more than 1,000 animals being struck in the park and along the boundary roads. “We have staff that are doing very detailed sweeps of the roads every morning and they're collecting and identifying roadkill,” said Kirkland. “We’re seeing garter snakes, skunks, fishers, bison, coyotes, cottontails – even species at risk such as the western toad and tiger salamander.” Five gates will be installed to prevent people from accessing the newly restricted areas.