Letter to Rob Fleming, Minister of Transportation & Infrastructure,
We are writing to bring to your attention a matter of urgency regarding a dangerous road within our community. Recently, there was a tragic incident on 264th Street in Aldergrove, where beloved mother and community member lost her life due to the hazardous conditions of the road. This incident has deeply shaken our community and has underscored the pressing need for immediate action to address the safety concerns of this road.
On Dec. 4 and 5 in 2023 two separate crashes in a 13-hour period resulted in a fatality and serious injuries. The family of the woman involved in the fatal accident are longtime Aldergrove residents, with many ties to the community and youth programming. There have been numerous significant accidents along this busy corridor which also serves as an emergency response route, the main access road from Highway 1 to the small community of Aldergrove, as well as access for a large number of semi-trucks from Fraser Highway/Highway 1 and the border crossing at 264th Street, which is being expanded.
In fact, there have been 35 crashes along a 20-block stretch of this road in 2022 alone, resulting in 20 serious injuries or deaths. The connected interchange has the highest number of crashes in the Lower Mainland.
The safety hazards on 264th Street have been a longstanding concern for residents. The road is characterized by high levels of community as well as commercial traffic, making it treacherous for both drivers and pedestrians/cyclists alike.
Given the tragic loss of life and the continuous risk posed by the unsafe conditions 264th Street, we implore you to prioritize immediate measures to address these issues. This may include but is not limited to:
• Conducting a comprehensive safety assessment of the road to identify specific hazards and areas for improvement,
• Enhancing pedestrian safety with designated crossings and sidewalk, and
• Enforcing stricter traffic regulations and penalties for reckless driving.
Furthermore, we urge you to allocate adequate resources and funding towards the urgent maintenance and improvement of 264th Street. The safety and well-being of our community members must not be compromised any longer.
We are confident that with your leadership and commitment to public safety, we can prevent further tragedies and ensure that our roads are safe for all who use them. Your prompt attention to this matter is greatly appreciated.
Andrea Gielens, on behalf of the Aldergrove Community Association
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• READ MORE: Transportation ministry awaits RCMP crash investigations on 264th Street
• READ MORE: 264th Interchange is worst intersection in Lower Mainland for crashes
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