The second fatality in a month is building the pressure on the provincial government to fix a dangerous stretch of road in Langford. Even temporary measures could help prevent another tragedy.
A 24-year-old man died after a head-on crash on Sunday on the Trans-Canada Highway near the Leigh Road overpass, the same area where another person died on Jan. 8. Langford Mayor Stew Young says another 38 crashes have occurred there in the past two years.
Anyone who has driven to or from the Malahat knows the stretch of highway just north of the overpass, where the road narrows as it goes around a curve.
Plans have long been in the works to widen the highway and install concrete barriers to prevent head-on collisions. As the mayor, fire chief and RCMP commander reiterated after Sunday’s crash, those plans have to move to the front burner.
In the meantime, temporary barriers must be installed to separate the northbound and southbound lanes and prevent head-on crashes.
In March 2016, planning and design work were announced. Langford did some blasting to prepare the way, but money for construction work hasn’t been announced. The Transportation Ministry no doubt has many priority projects on its list, but the danger proved by the two fatalities should be reason enough to re-order the list.
Young wants work on temporary barriers to start next week. There is no time to waste when such simple measures could save lives.
