Province to lower Highway 21 speed limit near Kincardine schools after crash, councillor says

Ontario's Ministry of Transportation has committed to lowering the speed limit on Highway 21 through part of Kincardine and to designing a northbound left-turn lane at Kincardine Township-Tiverton Public School, according to Kincardine councillor Rory Cavanagh. The commitment came days after a four-vehicle crash outside the school.

The ministry hasn't announced the changes. The Banner has asked it to confirm them.

Cavanagh said the lower limit would run from North Line to Bruce Avenue, Sarnia News Today reported. That stretch serves students at the Kincardine Township-Tiverton school, Huron Heights, St. Anthony's and the future site of Kincardine's new high school, the outlet reported.

CTV News London reported that Cavanagh said he had been told the ministry was "actively reconsidering" its position and would lower the limit "very shortly." CTV also reported that he said the province would speed up plans for the turn lane.

According to Sarnia News Today, Cavanagh said he spoke with Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson after Kincardine council met Wednesday. "Our message was heard," he said, as quoted by the outlet. "This is good news, but it isn't done until it's on the ground. A design on paper doesn't make anyone safer; the lane needs to be built."

What council asked for

The Municipality of Kincardine issued a release Oct. 15 calling on the province "to take immediate action" on that section of Highway 21. Council passed a motion asking the province to reconsider its earlier decisions. It wants "an immediate reduction in the posted speed limit" between Bruce Avenue and North Line, and "accelerated construction" of the turn lane as a stand-alone project.

The municipality's release says a third-party traffic study supported a northbound left-turn lane at the school. But the ministry indicated construction would be considered as part of its regular 10- to 15-year highway rehabilitation cycle, the release says, and it didn't support the speed reduction.

"Families in our community travel this stretch of Highway 21 every day, including parents bringing their children to and from school," Mayor Kenneth Craig said in the release. "We are asking the Province to recognize the importance of these improvements and take action now."

The release doesn't say whether the province has responded. Council is sending its motion to Premier Doug Ford, Thompson, MP Ben Lobb, several provincial ministers and the ministry's West Region office.

Tuesday's crash

The crash happened on Highway 21 between Sutton Street and North Line on Tuesday, Oct. 13. OPP West Region said four passenger vehicles were involved and that "two people sustained life-threatening injuries and one person sustained serious injuries." The highway reopened at 4:16 a.m. Wednesday, police said. Police haven't said what caused the crash.

Your turn

Is there a school zone or stretch of highway near Chatsworth that you think needs a lower speed limit? Tell us at news@chatsworthbanner.ca or through our tip form.