Dear Editor:
My letter is in regards to Brendan McAleer's column "Capilano Onramp Drives Driver Over the Edge," March 7, where he describes the many annoying and dangerous things that occur at this very dangerous on-ramp.
This is the onramp that merges onto westbound traffic on
Highway 1, and which is woefully short in length, producing a very dangerous merge with westbound traffic.
Since moving to the Edgemont area two years ago, my wife and I have had to endure that dangerous merge numerous times each day, and have witnessed all too many accidents and near accidents. We were shocked, as I am sure anyone who first experiences that merge, that something so dangerous could exist on B.C. roads. From what I have seen, this must be at or near the top of ICBC's list of accident locations on the North Shore.
The inadequate design of that on-ramp needs to be addressed. It would seem that the only solution, as a minimum, is to widen the Capilano Bridge to allow for another lane that would be of adequate length for a merge lane.
It is an expensive proposition, but a necessary price to pay when lives are at stake. The question I ask is, "When is the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure going to redesign and construct a new on-ramp that meets highway standards before someone is seriously injured or killed?" Maybe we need to get a petition going to move some government inertia.
Steve Wong
North Vancouver
