Macaulay Road Residents distressed over traffic incidents (Comox Valley Record)
The Macaulay Road and Area Neighbourhood Association (MRANA) is aware of several recent traffic incidents on their dead-end rural road.
Riders who were using the side of the road for a short distance to access local trails, in high-vis gear, were traumatized when a large transport truck came around a corner at speed and skidded to a stop, spooking the horses onto the road within three feet of that truck. The truck and driver were from the Lower Mainland, picking up equipment. A report was filed with the RCMP.
Not long after, another vehicle ended up on its side in the ditch near the same corner.
An area resident commented: “I ride my horse past that sign a lot. They could have hit kids or animals. It’s no joke that too many people speed on Macaulay Road. Someone could get injured or killed. Slow down please and think of others.”
Macaulay Road and Area Neighbourhood Association met with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) operations staff on road safety issues and has scheduled a meeting with the ICBC road safety coordinator.
In addition, several MRANA members joined the Comox Valley Citizens on Patrol to conduct Speed Watch. ICBC loaned the Speed Watch equipment and supports other educational initiatives for traffic calming and reducing speed. MoTI has installed some warning signs on many of the curves along the road and more are requested; however, it is well known that Macaulay Road, with its curves, poor visibility, no shoulders, and an alarming amount of traffic (2,200 per day, MoTI count in July 2022) is a dangerous road for pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians.
MRANA continues to advocate for road safety initiatives, improved road conditions, and secondary access. Macaulay Road in Black Creek is considered a “feeder” road. It is 13 kilometres in length with a branch of another approximately four km (Doyle Road) with five subdivisions (population of 1,530) using Macaulay Road as the only access for residents and commercial vehicles.