The new stop signs at the junction of Ackerman Road and Wembley Road has been a lively topic of correspondence recently in the paper. It is interesting that such a relatively new subdivision is catered to, even before the additional homes have been started.
Compare this to the plight of the residents of Columbia Beach, which has been growing for the past 30 years. There is only one road, Columbia Drive, which accesses the highway, and turning left is often almost impossible with the continuous stream of traffic in both directions. In recent years traffic lights were added at Lee Road, then at Johnstone Road and Drew Road. Unless these two sets of lights change in sync there is no chance of turning left from Columbia Drive and heading towards Parksville. There can be no comparison between the amount of traffic using Wembley Road to 19A.
Apparently the reason given for not installing traffic lights at the junction of Columbia Drive and Sunrise Drive on Highway 19A is that it is too close to the bridge. The same argument prevented the lights at Lee Road from becoming a reality for a long time, but there has not been a problem there since their arrival.
The best solution in my opinion is to build a roundabout. There is enough space. There would certainly be disruption during construction, but with the population expanding as it is, the road is only going to get busier. Something needs to be done soon.
There was opposition to putting in the roundabout at the top of Memorial Avenue in Qualicum, but now that people are used to it, it seems like it was always there. If only drivers learned to signal before entering and exiting, but that is another matter.
Dave Davies
Columbia Beach