Town council here has approved a traffic control plan for the upcoming 2016 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo.
Measures to be implemented during the event, from Sept. 20 to 24, include:
– a speed reduction to 50km/hour on the 6th Line from Wellington Road 109 to Minto Road 1 North;
– closure of Gillespie Lane from Wellington Road 109 to the 6th Line and restricting it to use by IPM service vehicles and tractors; and
– banning parking or stopping on the 6th Line from Wellington 109 to Road 1 North.
A staff report notes Gillespie Lane was widened by the town to prepare for the IPM but its alignment is not suitable for high volumes of traffic.
“Closing Gillespie Lane to general traffic and only allowing service vehicles, tractors moving people from parking lots to Tented City, and exhibitor access to the service entrance is safer for all,” the report explains.
“Pedestrian and tractor crossings from the parking areas to the Tented City will be clearly defined. Emergency vehicles have better access out of the site in the event they have to leave to another area.”
“The 6th line will be a key access to the plowing match for most of the general public,” notes CAO Bill White.
The speed reduction and parking/stopping restrictions on the 6th Line will ensure safer two-way traffic movement around the plowing lands, the report indicates.
“Tractors moving competitors from the main site to the plowing lands will have to mix with general traffic in parts,” states the report, which notes while the 6th Line is repaved from Wellington Road 109 to Wellington Road 6, it does not have large shoulders to accommodate parking and traffic.
“Parking and stopping on the road will be dangerous.”
The measures also include installation of temporary traffic lights at the intersection of 6th line and Gillespie Lane and a one-kilometre long right turn lane on Wellington Road 109 at Gillespie Lane.
“Obviously when you have 80,000 people coming to the area over a five-day period you need to be careful how traffic will work,” White commented.
