The families of Bella Webb, nine, and her seven-year-old friend Marley den Braber, live in condos on 198th Street and are concerned about speeders on the stretch from 56th Avenue to 53rd Avenue, despite several signs saying the speed limit is 30 km/hr on that street. The signboard displays vehicle speeds. The diamond means the vehicle is over 30 km. Heather Colpitts/Langley Advance photo
Parents who live along 198th Street between 53rd and 56th Avenue say their street has become a raceway since it become a detour for the 200th Street construction project.
Kari Brown has lived on the street for seven years and has never felt so unsafe.
“With a school at one end and a park at the other, it’s not a safe place for going faster,” she said.
Lora Katchmar is concerned someone is going to be hurt.
The two women note that the high density developments mean there’s many families in the area. Both have had near misses.
“I almost got hit coming out of the garage a couple of times,” Brown said.
Katchmar, a six-year resident of the street, said she had a vehicle speed past her, coming within a couple of inches Friday when she was by her parked car.
She said the area is clearly marked.
“They’ve got a sign up at the Montessori school saying 30 [km/hr],” she noted.
There’s a flashing signboard that displays speeds at about 55th Avenue and the playground sign north of 53rd Avenue for Brydon Park.
“I’ve contacted the City of Langley,” Katchmar said. “I’ve contacted the traffic control for the police. What’s it going to take?”
Metro Vancouver worked with a consultant to develop the traffic diversions for this project and does welcome input from the public, according to Bob Cheng, Metro Van’s lead senior engineer.
“We are aware,” he said of the safety concerns.
Metro Vancouver has tried to keep people informed throughout the project with notices sent around the neighbourhood, traffic reports in broadcast media and other measures.
The LED sign board displaying people’s speeds was “to remind vehicles to slow down and use their judgement.”
Cheng said they will do more if residents have safety concerns.
“We’ll work with the City to see what else we can do to make that better,” he said.