Bay Roberts council to meet with businesses over contentious intersection

By Mark Squibb / June 23, 2023

While Bay Roberts council has decided not to implement a traffic suggestion recommended by Powell’s Supermarket, it will meet with businesses near the intersection of Country Road and Route 70.

Representatives from Powells had recommended turning Country Road, or at least a portion of it, into a one-way street and so re-direct traffic towards Sawdust Road, which council hopes to outfit with a new traffic light system later this year.

The supermarket’s managers are concerned about the number of drivers who have been using the parking lot like a street and as a shortcut between roads.

“We discussed the idea of turning that area into a one-way road, and we do think it has some merit and it would certainly improve safety in some ways,” said Bay Roberts CAO Nigel Black. “That being said, we do recognize the fact that it only works once our intersection is completed at Sawdust Road, and we wouldn’t want to implement any change like this prior to that. The (planning and development) committee also noted that the overall safety, and I think some councillors spoke about this, of that whole intersection and that whole area has other ways that it could potentially be improved, and we suggested maybe council might want to establish some sort of committee of the businesses in that area and some members of council to discuss it further.”

Councillor Silas Badcock liked that idea. “There’s a lot of concerns, and I know we’re all hearing them, from local businesses in that area,” said Badcock. “The intersection really does need improvement.”

Deputy Mayor Geoff Seymour also expressed his support of the plan.

“No matter what you do here, someone’s going to be unhappy,” said Seymour. “But, at the end of the day it’s about safety. Involving the business owners, the property owners, is going to be crucial. They have to have a say in this, no doubt about it. I think the professionals should be brought in to look at this stuff. None of us are experts on this stuff, but someone out there is. Someone might have a look at that and say, ‘Here’s what you need to do.’”

Black said he could ask consultants currently working with the Town on two other intersections to provide council with a price estimate for providing a solution for the area.

Mayor Walter Yetman said that while he liked that idea, he would still like to meet with business owners first before getting consultants involved.

Black said he would try to arrange a for private meeting between council and business owners before the next public council meeting.