Officials at the municipality of Marmora on the Lake are reminding motorists to slow down and drive safely in construction zones.
This comes after a dangerous driving situation occurred recently on Centre Line Road.
The municipality said that despite clear markings and a flagger on site directing traffic to drive slowly, a white pickup truck sped through the construction zone and tore through the fresh gravel and tar, causing permanent damage to the freshly gravelled road.
CAO John Connolly said the harm to the road is disappointing, but it isn’t the greatest concern.
“This type of action, it’s not just reckless to the individual and the people there; it’s community vandalism, and it’s reckless. We felt it was a close enough call and the irresponsible behaviour is something we needed to all out.”
He added the township’s greatest concern is the safety of the people working to improve the roads.
“Construction crews work within feet of passing traffic. When vehicles drive recklessly through active construction zones, it puts workers’ lives at risk. Work zone speed limits, signs, and traffic direction are there to protect both workers and motorists. No road project is worth risking a person’s life. Please slow down and respect active construction zones.”
Connolly, who commutes to work from the west part of Peterborough, said he sees instances of dangerous driving regularly, even in construction zones.
“When you get east of McCloskey International, there’s construction going on, and even when the marking isn’t there, people are just leapfrogging past each other to get, I don’t know, eight or ten feet closer to the stoplight. It just makes no sense. Everyone treat each other with grace and just drive carefully. I don’t get it.”
Marmora on the Lake is asking anyone who has any information about this incident to contact its transportation department at 613-472-6940.
