There’s an old joke that goes something like “There are only two seasons in Canada – winter and construction.”
That probably seems less funny to anyone trying to make their way around Mapleton and the wider environs of Wellington County these days. It sometimes feels this summer that Mapleton is in the epicentre of a construction maelstrom.
The addition of a bridge closure on Wellington Road 11 to an already lengthy list of local detours caused Mayor Neil Driscoll to remark at the July 12 Mapleton council meeting that, “It’s going to limit the ways you can get in and out of Drayton and Moorefield.”
As motorists encounter bridges out and roads closed at every turn, it would be understandable for a bit of frustration to set in. Hopefully drivers will keep their cool and avoid turning 2016 into the summer of road rage.
Toward that end, the local police agency recently offered some advice for drivers navigating through the construction season.
Wellington County OPP are advising motorists to slow down and exercise caution when approaching a construction zone.
“Be aware that vehicles ahead of you may stop unexpectedly,” police urge in a recent press release. “Avoid watching what is being done to the road and concentrate on your driving. Watch for a traffic person that directs the flow of traffic. They are there to protect the construction workers as well as you.”
The OPP note that heavy equipment is extremely large with many blind spots and advise motorists to be aware of these areas and avoid them.
“Slow down. Speed fines are doubled when workers are present,” police point out. “Road construction crews are concerned about motorists who drive through areas they are working in. Please give them a ‘brake.’ They have families too.”
