HARBOUR GRACE, N.L. — A Harbour Grace couple with concerns about safety issues on the hilly road where they’ve lived for over 40 years are no closer to getting the satisfaction they want.
Bridget and Tom Rose attended a meeting held March 22 at the Danny Cleary Harbour Grace Community Centre. Also present were two representatives from Harris & Associates Ltd.,and engineering firm, town CAO Mike Saccary and three council members – Deputy-Mayor Sonia Williams, Coun. Lyda Byrne and Coun. Kathy Tetford.
Up for discussion was the planned water and sewer upgrades for Kitchen’s Hill. The Roses own two adjacent homes near the top of the hill, one of which sits close to the edge of the pavement.
In a recent interview, the Roses told The Compass that building, which the couple usually rents out, has been damaged by vehicles a number of times. They contend the road is too narrow and that a blind turn next to their property coming down the hill needs to be addressed.
To the latter point, they have made note of a drawing completed by Harris & Associates for the project in 2016 that shows two lines forming a road over the edge of their land.
The Roses said they are willing to sell a portion of their property to the town to eliminate the blind turn and have the road rerouted.
According to minutes recorded for the meeting and tabled at the April 8 Harbour Grace council meeting, Harris & Associates representatives confirmed the drawings came from the company and did not represent a radical departure from what had been previously proposed. However, they also believed the drawing with lines over the Roses’ property had been altered with pencil.
Regarding pedestrian safety, the engineers said the sidewalk planned for the north side of the road should be more than adequate. The Roses also brought up traffic during the busy summer months, particular around the time of the local regatta. The engineers suggested there are alternate routes for motorists to use, adding the design of the upgrade was sufficient to address any safety concerns.
In an interview with The Compass, Bridget Rose said it would appear the consulting engineers have their minds made up about the suitability of the work planned for the road. She also contended the markings on the drawing could not have been done with a pencil.
“It was done when the blueprints were done, because it’s a pinkish line going through it,” she said of the drawing, which was listed as number six of seven.
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