New signs are going up on Highway 838 on both sides of St. Anthony’s School to alert drivers to the school. School principal Joanne Akerboom will also ensure crossing guards are present for students at the end of their school day.
New “school area” signs will be going up on Highway 838 before St. Anthony’s School.
Signs will soon be installed east and west of the school on North Dinosaur Trail to alert drivers there is a school in the area.
A “school crossing” sign will also be installed on the lights in front of the school.
School area signs alert drivers to the presence of a school, but does not require drivers to reduce their speed.
Alberta Transportation, the Town of Drumheller, the RCMP, St. Anthony’s School, representatives from Christ the Redeemer School Division and the local MLA office met Thursday, March 13 to discuss the issue.
“It shows we are working together in the community,” said school trustee Mark Chung of the Christ the Redeemer School Division.
An email from Tony Chelick, operations manager with Alberta Department of Transportation stated the school had expressed concerns regarding the speed limit on Highway 838 adjacent the school, recommending a school zone be placed with accompanying speed reductions at school start, noon, and school end.
“After presentations and discussion, consensus among all parties was reached that the existing speed zoning is appropriate.”
“There are sufficient existing safety devices in place, i.e. fence along the school and pedestrian protection including half signals at the school entrance and a painted crosswalk to safely allow for pedestrians to cross at this location.”
He notes the issue will be revisited shortly before school begins again this fall.
A local parent agrees with the addition of the new signs.
“I do think it’s a good idea - I do have two young kids that go there,” said St. Anthony’s parent Alexis Pepin.
Pepin said she doesn’t allow her children to go to school by themselves across the highway.
“There’s been too many close calls. One time I was taking my son to school and the walk sign was on - a young girl almost blew through the red light.”
Pepin said she knows the school tried to get a school zone designation but was turned down by Alberta Department of Transportation.
“I wish the town would zone it 50 (kilometers per hour) - that would be better than 70. I wish it would be reduced,” said Pepin.
The speed on Highway 838 heading west increases from 50 km/h to 70 km/h once across the Michichi Bridge before the hospital.
The speed on the highway heading east from the Royal Tyrrell Museum toward the hospital is reduced from 80 km/h to 70 km/h shortly after the boundary of Midland Provincial Park.
Both Alberta Transportation and the RCMP conducted speed surveys.
Their results indicated that the average speed on that section of the highway was between 58 to 64 km/h.
Since the school was built two years ago, concerns have been raised over the vulnerability of students crossing the highway, said school principal Joanne Akerboom.
“The school felt it kind of blends in too well and there is no notice of the school coming up,” added RCMP Staff Sergeant Art Hopkins.
Principal Akerboom has committed to adding crossing guards at the stop light after school.
Alberta Transportation has offered to host a special session at the school and provide materials for the school to hand out to parents in order to raise the issue of pedestrian safety.
The school is a K-12 school with about 430 students and is located on Highway 838 near the Drumheller Health Centre.
There is currently a touch signal activated crossing installed at the traffic lights at the school.