The County of Wetaskiwin is supporting Wetaskiwin Regional Public Schools (WRPS) in their request for the provincial government to lower the speed limit from 100 km/h to 80 km/h on a stretch of Highway 13.
WRPS reached out to the County to support the lowering of the speed limit on Highway 13 going past Lakedell Elementary School and the South Pigeon Lake Fire Department for the safety of students, staff, and the community.
The intersection of Highway 13 and Range Road 12 does not currently have a turning lane to accommodate loaded school buses, loaded horse trailers, heavy vehicles travelling to and from the waste transfer station, farmer’s market vendors, and recreational traffic.
South Pigeon Lake Fire Department Chief, Wayne Benson, says that there have been “many near misses at that intersection.” July 23, 2016 there was an accident at the Lakedell school intersection that resulted in 12 injuries and one fatality.
The County submitted a letter to Minister Rick Wilson supporting WRPS’s request as they believe the reduction of the speed limit will assist in keeping the community safe.