Farmer’s that frequent the Cold Springs area say Northumberland County should re-think their position on the traffic calming initiative.
Northumberland County has installed flexible bollards at the north and south ends of Cold Springs on County Road 18 (Burnham Street North) in Hamilton Township.
The goal was to reduce speeds of traffic travelling through the Cold Springs area.
Manager of Project Engineering for Northumberland County, Denise Marshall said the pilot project in Cold Springs along with Welcome has been taking place for three years in various stages.
“Through our Transportation Master Plan we heard from the community that speeding was really a concern, particularly in our hamlets.”
“So before going and implementing measures in all of them, we wanted to identify a couple of locations and implement some testing to see what was effective before we roll it out in our other locations.”
All phases are put in place for a few months to determine feedback going forward.
The first phase dealt with pavement markings and signage. The second phase dealt with radar speed markings along with increased pavement markings.
“The intention for this third phase with the bollards is to implement until the end of August. In order for use to be able to collect speed data early on as well as after they’ve been in place for a month or so.”
Marshall said it is strictly a pilot project and the idea is to monitor and get feedback from the community.
“Then we go back and determine how effective, how viable and how feasible it is to implement in the long run.”
Area farmer Allan Cole was one of several residents meeting in Cold Springs to demonstrate the ineffectiveness of the flexible bollards.
Several pieces of farm equipment drove south on County Road 18 with all of them having some form of difficulty manoeuvring around or through the bollards.
“What they didn’t consider in their plan was the need to allow businesses whether it be farming, construction or any kind of industry that uses wide equipment to go through safely.”
“Because of them doing that, they’ve actually made the road less safe.”
Cole said he’s communicated with the County and understands their reasons, “but they failed to consider that there is other business going on here besides commuter vehicles.”
“When they do this, it gives me the impression they don’t really care and I find that disturbing.”
Cole said the width between the bollards is approximately 10’4″ for a vehicle to get through.
A tractor with dual wheels is a minimum of 12′ wide, a combine is approximately 13′ feet wide, hay equipment could be 15′ wide.
A metal piece at the base of each bollard is approximately two inches high and the group said it could easily puncture a tire on farm equipment which could cost up to $5,000.
Linda Parker said with the amount of reflective along the bollards is can be very confusing for motorists.
With the number of reflectors and a oncoming cars headlights, it was “overwhelming.”
“There is no ditch, there is no shoulders to go on. It hits you all of a sudden even though they have the white lines – you figure it’s for bikes. It’s very startling at first.”
As a former police officer, John Davison said, “it poses a huge risk safety wise.”
“If you hit one of these things you may lose control.”
With the bollards being approximately ten feet wide and his camper/trailer being eigh feet wide, in addition to the expansion of the awning.
“If you’re coming down here and misjudge or miscalculate and hit one of these bollards, it will go underneath your camper. The campers made today all they have is a waxy cardboard material that will tear or rip one of those.”
“You have lines that come off the axle that go down into your brake pads, they get ripped off and you also have your propane line as well that could be damaged.”
Area farmer Paul Burnham gives the county credit at this point as it is only a study.
“Maybe they’ll come to the conclusion that maybe it’s not the best thing. It’s not just the farmers that are saying they don’t like it. There are some residents that are a little bit scared of the danger hazard of it.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
