By Emily Stonehouse

With the fall colours coming near their peak time, Loon Lake is a popular destination for motorists taking in the sights. But with vehicular accidents accumulating along the stretch of provincial highway, a group of concerned citizens have decided to take matters into their own hands, when their cry for help seeking a speed reduction has gone unnoticed by the government. “We’ve exhausted all our options,” said Kathy Jolivet, the president of the Loon Lake Property Owners Association (LLPOA). “We’re out to mitigate a high hazard, high risk situation.”

The section of highway in question is a twisty and turny strip of Highway 118 squeezed beside Loon Lake on the eastern side of Dysart et al. Over the years, there have been a number of accidents along the route, but a recent situation in mid-August ignited the fire for resident Doug Harper, and his mission to lower the speed regulations. “The highway has changed,” said Harper during a recent interview. We’ve seen changes in traffic. The number of motorbikes on the weekends is staggering. Slow them down.”

While residents believe that traffic has changed over time, this cry from help has been years in the making. In August of 2022, the LLPOA reached out to MPP Laurie Scott, seeking a speed reduction for the highway. “Having been a resident of the area for over 40 years,” said Jolivet, “I can honestly say there have been several accidents on this highway, some of which were fatal.”

While Jolivet spoke on behalf of the LLPOA, little did she know that the initial letter would spark years of back and forth between the province and the lake association. As the months ticked on, Jolivet sent a number of nudges and reminders to the staff at Scott’s constituency office, and never heard from Scott directly.

By August, 2022, a constituency office assistant for the MPP noted that the Ministry of Transportation was tasked to undertake an analysis of the traffic operations at the location. In December, 2022, Jolivet reached out again, noting members of the LLPOA had not seen any mechanical counters on the stretch of highway, and that with snow on the way, it was likely that no additional work would be done that year.

The correspondence continues up to present day, with the LLPOA feeling that adequate coverage has not yet been completed to assess the need for speed changes.

With a dangerous accident occurring in August, the LLPOA has once again pushed forward with the fight to change the speed from 80 kilometres an hour, down to 50 kilometres an hour.

Yet with the proposed drastic speed change, there comes a level of enforcement required to keep drivers in check. OPP Provincial Constable Hillary Newman was aware of the speed concerns around the stretch of highway. “We’ve been focusing on speed a lot over the summer,” she said during a phone interview. “If we are aware of it, we will have people at those locations.”

Newman noted that if the speed limit is set to 80 kilometres, drivers have to notch 50 kilometres over that limit to be considered stunt driving.

But if the limit is set to anything under 80, anything 40 kilometres over that is considered stunt driving. “And the penalties for that are pretty severe,” she said.

She noted that there was a recent influx of stunt drivers down Glamorgan Road, which is a county road. The highway in question along Loon Lake belongs to the province.

But that doesn’t mean that the local council hasn’t gotten involved. While they are aware that they cannot change the limit, Dysart council put forward their nod of approval during a June 2023 council meeting. “Dysart et al Council supports the request from LLPOA to reduce the speed limit along the Loon Lake shoreline of Highway 118,” reads the two-year old resolution.

Council then directed the resolution to be forwarded to MPP Laurie Scott and the former Minister of Transportation, Caroline Mulroney. The LLPOA have not heard of the resolution being received from either.

Newspaper staff reached out to MPP Laurie Scott’s office, seeking clarification on the progress of the resolution, and received the following response: “The ministry completed a field review which included spot speed studies and assessment of the highway geometry to confirm appropriate speed limits for the curves,” it said. “The results of the technical analysis indicate that the current posted speed limit is the most appropriate speed along this section of highway.”

Yet the messaging went on to say that there would be adjustments made, based on the layout of the roadway. “It was determined that the existing curve warning signs and warning curve speeds should be adjusted to better reflect the road design. The ministry will be updating these signs over the summer of 2023.”

Staff were then directed to speak to the MTO, to which a response was never received. It was noted that the current signage continues to not align with the curves of the roadway, according to the LLPOA.

Beyond safety concerns, the LLPOA are mindful of risks associated with spillage into Loon Lake, should a truck tip over the edge. “We can mitigate potential personal injury incidents and injury to wildlife by mitigation of a reduced speed zone along the lake,” said Harper. “As for the worst case scenario of a hazardous material spill into our waterway, it would have devastating consequences for all lake wildlife including fisheries and those species within the food chain that source from Loon Lake.”

With their questions and concerns going unanswered, the LLPOA are continuing their fight for speed changes, particularly in light of the increased traffic during fall-colours viewing. In Harper’s frustrations, he made an effort to reach out directly to Premier Doug Ford. “Being a first responder for 36 years, and seeing first hand the results of high speed motor vehicle collisions, I feel my perspective can offer an opinion based on experience,” he said. “I am genuinely concerned more injuries and possible deaths will occur on this piece of provincial highway unless immediate action is taken to reduce speed, along with a strong enforcement policy to promote road safety.”

At the time of press, Harper and the LLPOA have not received a productive response around their concerns. “The government is supposed to be there to help the people,” said Harper. “We knew an accident like this would happen. And it’s going to happen again if nothing is changed.”