SSPORA is very concerned about the safety of the highway intersection that provides access at Highway 19A and Plummer Road. Surely all of us have experienced both frustration and anxiety (especially during the summer) as we have attempted to enter the highway from our side road. The serious crash last August which destroyed a couple of the large concrete barrier blocks in place there demonstrates the potential for harm in a serious accident.
Plummer Road and the Highway 19A intersection are within an Electoral Area and therefore are the responsibility of the Province. As a rural road established to serve a rural neighborhood, upgrades and additional standards such as bike lane and pedestrian access surpass the rural roads standards. However with the proximately to tourist attractions such as Rathtrevor Provincial Park, increasing pressures of development in adjoining areas and multiple badly aligned entrances onto the highway as a result of disjointed developments over time – the area has been elevated in priority at the RDN for advocacy to the Province.
Adam Walker (our MLA) stated at our last AGM that he is working with the provincial Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) to prioritize budget for an upgrade to the intersection.
Lehann Wallace (our RDN Area G Director since October 2019) has taken the following actions regarding this intersection:
• Distributed a report, consulted and advised priority to MLA Michelle Stillwell as established in the 18 October, 2017 completed study: Highway 19A: Rathtrevor Provincial Park Planning to Parksville, BC.
• Sept 2019 – MOTI completed survey of Plummer Road access.
• February 2020 – Through Board Motion by Director Wallace and Mayor Ed Mayne, the RDN prioritizes pedestrian access through Regional Parks and Trails service for this location (i.e. along the Highway 19A corridor) and communicates to the Ministry this priority. This represented the community’s concern that a Parksville trail not cut through the San Pareil residential neighborhood. Unfortunately the Minister’s response was to “apply for an Active Transportation grant”, a response reflecting a lack of understanding of the complexities of the boundaries in this corridor.
• September 2020 – In Response to this Ministry response, Area G and Parksville made a joint delegation to the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure (Clare Trevena) to explain the complexity of the unique situation with the following ASK: That the Plummer Road & Island Highway E. Access Plan proceed within the 2021/2022 Fiscal plan; and that this plan includes Pedestrian Access between Rathtrevor Provincial Park and Parksville for completion within 5 years.
• October 2021 – To ensure the awareness for funding request for engineering and construction consideration for the 2022 Financial Plan, made a joint delegation (RDN Chair, Tyler Brown, Area G Director Lehann Wallace) to Minister Bowinn Ma, Minister of State for Infrastructure.
• Any official updates or developments will come from the Province.
SSPORA has a sub-committee focused on the safety of this intersection. We will keep the community informed as we move forward in our attempts to gain MOTI approval for further improvement work on our intersection.
Thanks to Director Wallace for supplying the detailed information cited above and the downloadable PDF file to follow!