Kincardine Council is thinking about allowing an emergency access road to be open to traffic whenever Highway 21 and Bruce Road 23 are closed in bad weather.
The road connects the Lorne Beach subdivision to Victoria Street in Inverhuron.
Right now, the road is gated most of the time, but it is open to Bruce Power employee buses only if all other roads to the plant site are closed.
Kinhuron subdivision resident Darlene Stevens says it’s an issue of public safety and she would not mind dealing with the extra traffic in her neighbourhood if the highway is closed.
The suggestion to open the road comes from Councillor Gordon Campbell who wants to try having the road open on a trial basis.
He wanted council to make a decision right away on the matter, but support for that was not there.
Deputy Mayor Laura Haight says council told Inverhuron residents the road would not be fully accessible to the public, and she’s concerned opening up the road would be going back on their word to them.
Council has instructed staff and a committee to look into the matter further.
Mayor Larry Kraemer supports letting staff have a closer look at the issue.
He says there are too many questions surrounding safety, traffic flow, and partner agencies like the County and Bruce Power.
Kraemer notes the road was never designed to withstand the traffic levels found on Highway 21.
Kraemer doesn’t want to see heavy truck traffic travelling on the access road, but thinks having staff look at the issue could lead to a better solution.
The question over opening up the emergency access road whenever Highway 21 and County Road 23 are closed will come back to council on February 3.