Its just plain dangerous

SACKVILLE
By Yvette d'Entremont - The Weekly News
Employees working in the Sackville Business Park are concerned the amount and speed of traffic on Glendale Avenue is making it increasingly hazardous for them to exit the business park.
Since 2007, the group has been lobbying the provincial government to install a set of lights to make it safer for employees and customers exiting the park. They've said it's especially dangerous for anyone trying to turn left toward Sackville, particularly during peak hours. The intersection falls under provincial jurisdiction.
"In the winter, the snow banks are quite high and people can't see cars coming until they're almost on top of them and they've already committed to pulling out," said Paul Beaton, owner of Beaton's Towing, which operates out of the business park.
Beaton said everyone he conducts business with asks him why there are no lights at that intersection.
"There have already been a few minor accidents at that intersection and a few close calls," he said. "The traffic in the park is a lot higher now than it used to be, with more businesses and a lot more traffic."
An additional safety issue is that many of the vehicles leaving the business park are large, commercial vehicles.
Concrete trucks and large Nova Scotia Power vehicles, as well as large trucks carrying building trusses, regularly enter and exit the park.
"When you're dealing with a 60 km/h speed zone with most of the traffic travelling much faster than that, and you have big trucks coming out of the park, there will be a big accident," Beaton said. "It's a waiting game, but there's no doubt in my mind that there will be something big."
Shirley Burke, an employee with Sure Shot Dispensing, said leaving the business park in the evenings is a nightmare. She recalled a day this winter when all employees were told to turn right on their way out of the business park. Snow banks had obscured the view of oncoming traffic so badly that a left hand turn toward Sackville would have been impossible.
"It's getting busier in here. It's hard to see at that intersection, and you have to wait until you see no traffic before trying to turn," Burke said. "But it (the traffic) comes up on you so fast ... Our biggest concern is that someone will get killed before something is done."
Local MLA Dave Wilson said he helped initiate a petition that was signed by more than 1,000 people. He presented it to the legislature in late 2007. Last November, Wilson and representatives from a number of businesses in the park were pleased to meet with Murray Scott, who was serving as Minister of Transportation at the time.
Wilson said he was the first transportation minister to visit the site, and appeared sympathetic. The group was hopeful something would be done to address their concerns, but a provincial cabinet shuffle shortly afterward has left them feeling like they're back to square one.
A traffic flow assessment has already determined the site doesn't warrant a set of traffic lights. But Wilson said development is continuing in the area, traffic is increasing, and the large size of many of the vehicles coming and going from the park is an additional safety issue that makes this situation unique.
"As a paramedic, I think I can say we will see more serious accidents at that intersection with the increase of traffic flow using the roadway," he said. "Let's avert a serious accident here with a set of lights, which is mostly needed during peak hours. In the early morning and late afternoon it's just plain dangerous for employees and customers."
ydentremont@hfxnews.ca