Powell’s owners ask council for help with traffic concerns

By Mark Squibb \ May 26, 2023

Representatives from Powell’s Supermarket met with Bay Roberts council this week regarding concerns they have with some people, sometimes driving at high speeds, who are using the grocery store’s parking lot as a throughfare.

“We’ve been struggling with fast cars on our parking lot for a number of years now, and as traffic picks up, which is great because it’s a sign of continued prosperity within the area, the problem gets worse,” said general manager John Pritchett, who was joined by Dave Powell, owner and CEO.

Pritchett said there are two main concerns; one is that some drivers come shooting onto the parking lot via Brennans Lane to avoid the Water Street and Conception Bay Highway intersection and then exit onto Country Road. The other is that some people cut across the parking lot from Country Road to get to that same intersection.

“We kept hearing from customers and employees about ‘near-misses,’” said Pritchett, who noted a number of years back the store asked employees to count the cars cutting through the lot over a two-day period.

One day, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., some 804 cars cut through the lot, and the next day 786 cut through the parking lot, according to the employee tallies.

“That’s an accurate count, because we were very specific to count only the cars that came through a side entrance or exit, shot across the lot, and left the other side,” added Powell.

Years back, the supermarket erected signs asking people not to cut across the lot.

“That was our first sort of ‘soft’ attempt at getting the issue under control,” said Pritchett.

But those signs, say supermarket management, have made little difference.

Pritchett said that as the concern with the lot is a safety concern, management must act to address the problem.

To address the concerns, management recently took it upon themselves to restrict the flow of traffic onto and off the parking lot by erecting a barricade near the Country Road entrance.

Folks can still drive in from Country Road and park along the south side of the building, but cannot cut across the lot in their vehicles.

Pritchett said the supermarket has received a great amount of feedback from the decision, with some folks praising it, but others saying they don’t feel safe turning onto the main highway from Country Road.

“We want a solution that keeps our team safe, keeps our public safe, and is best for the overall flow of traffic within the town,” said Pritchett.

Management had two further steps they were prepared to implement — one they could implement on their own, and one they would need the Town’s cooperation for.

The first, which management could undertake on their own, is to block off the entrance near Brennans – a move which Powell estimates would only stop about 10 percent of incoming traffic.

The other is to create a one-way section on Country Road which would direct drivers to Sawdust Lane.

That idea is contingent on erection of traffic lights at the Sawdust Road and main highway intersection, which is expected to be completed later this summer.

“So, the idea would be to funnel traffic towards the traffic lights as opposed to having traffic scoot through and pass through our parking lot,” said Pritchett.

He added a number of people have said they cut across the parking lot to avoid the Country Road and Conception Bay Highway intersection, and that this design may address those concerns, as it would direct cars to the as-yet-to-be-installed traffic lights.

“We need your partnership, because we can’t, as a private business, do anything that’s going to address public roads,” said Pritchett.

Councillor Dean Franey said he liked the idea, but the problem would be the time it would take to implement it.

“Right off the bat, we have to wait for the new lights to be installed, and we would have to have public consultation with residents of Country Road because we can’t just make a big change whenever we want to,” said the councillor.

Franey further suggested speedbumps, an idea Pritchett said management had considered but felt would likely impede snow clearing efforts in the winter. He allowed that installing speed bumps would also encourage some drivers to cut across parking spaces.

Council was receptive to the suggestions, and discussed the matter for a few minutes, though no decision was made other than to agree to meet again to discuss the matter further.