Several road improvements have recently been made by the United Counties of Prescott and Russell (UCPR) over the summer months, and when the Public Works Committee met on August 12, it recommended other improvements be made in the future.

Safe crossings

A new pedestrian crossover in Alfred controlled by traffic lights has been completed and will enter service approximately around the beginning of the school year.

The new signals are on St-Philippe Street (County Road 17) near the intersection with St-Paul Street, which is a busy crossing area due to it being near École élémentaire catholique St-Victor.

According to Alfred and Plantagenet Township Mayor Stéphane Sarrazin, the new signals for the crossing cost $150,000, with the UCPR and the township each paying 50 percent of the cost, or $75,000 each.

New pedestrian crossovers are being constructed or have been constructed in three other UCPR communities.  A new crossing will soon be in operation at Dollard Street in Casselman, and another crossing in Casselman near the Early Years Centre will be installed before the end of the year.  A new pedestrian crossover in Cheney will also be installed before the end of 2020.  A new crossover by the roundabout in Embrun entered service during the first week of August.

Blue Corner

Following another recent collision on County Road 17 at the intersection with Blue Corner Road, Champlain Township Mayor Normand Riopel has asked if the speed limit on County Road 17 near the intersection could be reduced from 90 kilometres per hour to 70 kilometres per hour.  UCPR Interim Director of Public Works Jérémie Bouchard said that before any decision is made, he will obtain the police records of collisions at the intersection for the past five to ten years to see if changes are necessary.

Slow down in St-Eugène

According to Bouchard, East Hawkesbury Mayor Robert Kirby received a recommendation from the Ontario Provincial Police that the speed limits on County Road 10 at the edge of St-Eugène be reduced.  East Hawkesbury Township Council subsequently approved a resolution requesting the UCPR to reduce the speed limit on County Road 10 from 70 to 60 kilometres per hour for 990 metres east of the village and from 80 kilometres per hour to 50 kilometres per hour for 470 metres west of the County Road 14 intersection.  On August 12, the UCPR Public Works Committee recommended that UCPR Council adopt a by-law changing the speed limits.

Roadside rumbling

The committee has recommended installing rumble strips along the paved should section of County Road 3 (Principale Street) in Casselman, north from the Paul-Emile Levesque Bridge to Du Boisé Street.  The cost would be covered from the surplus in the 2020 budget or from the 2021 budget.