Dawson Trail MLA Bob Lagassé is renewing calls for safety improvements at the intersection of Highway 12 and Provincial Road 210 following multiple collisions, most recently a crash that RCMP say injured four people.
The intersection near Ste. Anne has been the site of numerous crashes over the years, prompting ongoing concerns from residents, commuters and municipal leaders.
“My thoughts are with everyone involved in this latest accident, and I wish those injured a full and speedy recovery,” says Lagassé.
Lagassé says he wants to see further measures implemented before a fatal collision occurs, including changes that would reduce opportunities for dangerous T-bone crashes.
“I would like to see the one side closed on the Ste. Anne side so that we can get direct traffic through that intersection. There’s no reason for it to still be open,” he says, noting there is already access to the overpass for motorists travelling toward Ste. Anne.
“It is clear that it’s not slowing down, so before someone gets killed there, I think we need to take further safety improvements to those that already in place.”
Lagassé says he has been lobbying the provincial government on the issue in his role as MLA, raising concerns during question period and sending a letter to the minister responsible.
“It’s easy to blame the previous government or the current government, but it’s not a blame game here. It’s about safety.”
He says he has been told construction is expected to begin sometime this summer, though he expresses frustration with delays.
“This was slated to occur about three years ago and the process seems to have taken extra long,” he says.
“I feel like we should get this done before someone gets hurt really badly again or gets killed.”
According to Lagassé, success in the coming months would mean construction beginning as planned and interim measures being put in place to improve safety.
“Let’s at least put some sort of barricade up so we can prevent that T-bone accident from occurring,” he says.
Highway 12 is a major transportation corridor in southeastern Manitoba and serves several growing communities.
Residents have continued to raise concerns about traffic volumes and safety at the intersection with PR 210.
“It’s loud and clear right now that this is a problematic intersection,” Lagassé says.
“I know the experts have come up with the recommendations to get this done, so let’s stop delaying.”
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