Dump trucks and speeding ATVs spark worry on South River street

By Olivia Bradbury, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

South River council has decided to lower the Dawe’s Road speed limit to 30km/h after receiving a resident’s request for speed bumps.

In a letter, the resident expressed concern about the speed of ATVs, unlicensed vehicles, and cement trucks from Dawe’s Concrete Products Ltd., a business located in South River. She asked if council could place speed bumps on the road.

Councillor David Petten noted council could easily address the cement trucks by informing the company of the complaint. However, council members did not feel that speed bumps would be effective in reducing the speed of ATV drivers, who might use the bumps as ramps.

 Petten suggested the Town’s maintenance manager, Jonny Jessop, could place speed bumps on the road as requested so the resident could see they were not an effective solution. 

However, Jessop said government vehicles sometimes use Dawe’s Road to access a pit owned by the provincial government. It is one of two pits located at the end of Dawe’s Road, with the other owned by concrete supplier Avalon Ready Mix.

Town clerk Marjorie Dawson suggested council try lowering the speed limit on Dawe’s Road. The road does not have a speed limit posted, making it 50 kph by default. Petten moved to lower it to 30 kph. That was seconded by councillor Herb Hedd. All voted in favour, and the motion was carried.