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Grandparents playing larger role in raising children.
Local youth gain a global perspective.
Chilliwack secures two weekend wins.
Y O U R C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R • F O U N D E D I N 1 8 9 1 • W W W. T H E P R O G R E S S . C O M • T U E S D AY, O C T O B E R 2 , 2 0 1 2
River cleanup draws largest turnout ever Jennifer Feinberg The Progress
The largest turnout ever was recorded Sunday at the B.C. Rivers’ Day cleanup on the Chilliwack/ Vedder River system. A total of 338 river stewards rolled up their sleeves to pick up other people’s trash to protect pristine river habitat. “This was our 11th annual Rivers’ Day event, and it was a very successful day,” said Lew Chater of the Chilliwack-Vedder River Cleanup Society. “Every year the event seems to grow. The fabulous weather we’ve been having might have had something to do with it, as well as some good publicity about the event.” The group was thrilled with the solid participation so many youth volunteers this year. “This is where it all starts — with the young people. This kind of behaviour, where we actively protect the river, has to be taught and modeled.” With about 90 people more than usual showing up, they were able to get into areas rarely covered by cleanups in the upper reaches of the river system. “We’re making a difference,” said Chater. “I compare it to graffiti. If you remove it, you get less, and that’s what we’re seeing.” Continued: RIVER/ p12
Members of 6th Chilliwack Scout Group take part in the B.C. Rivers Day cleanup on the ChilliwackVedder River. SUBMITTED PHOTO
Emergency responders were on-scene at this two-vehicle crash at Keith Wilson and Tyson roads just before noon on Wednesday. The car (right) was travelling eastbound on Keith Wilson when this pickup entered the intersection heading northbound. The two male drivers were the only occupants of the vehicles. Neither was seriously injured. City officials are looking at traffic control. JENNA HAUCK/ PROGRESS
Traffic control coming on the south side Jennifer Feinberg The Progress
A busy intersection on the south side of Chilliwack is about to get some traffic control in the form of a new traffic light — or possibly a single-lane roundabout. At least two crashes occurred there in recent weeks, but the intersection had already been approved for an upgrade in this year’s budget. “Staff in the engineering department are currently working on the preliminary design to improve the intersection of Keith Wilson and Tyson,” said Mayor Gaetz in a
post on the Facebook last week. The two options being studied are “conventional signalization” meaning a stop light, or a singlelane roundabout. Financial cost comparisons are on the way. “We expect the necessary land purchase and then construction will follow,” Gaetz said. If necessary the city will install a temporary four-way stop, a technique often used when a new stop light is being planned. It’s always been a busy corner, but with the opening of the new UFV campus at Canada Education Park, and the increased volume from the Evans Road overpass, it
has seen even more traffic recently. A light is the least expensive option for the city, and easiest to deliver in terms of land purchase and construction requirements. It would involve construction of the curbs, gutters and more, costing about $300,000, as opposed to the more involved process of constructing a single-lane roundabout, estimated to cost a little more than $1 million, according to city staff. City staff looked at the whole corridor leading to the Evans Road overpass a few years ago, and determined which intersections
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were going to require upgrades in the future. They’re planning some form of traffic control at Keith Wilson and Tyson, but also at Evans and Stevenson and at Tyson and Watson. A traffic light went in recently at South Sumas and Tyson Road, and Ashwell at Bernard. Information has been requested from RCMP collision analysts about the recent crash incidents at Keith Wilson and Tyson, to see if those details can shed light on which traffic control design would be best at that intersection. jfeinberg@theprogress.com twitter.com/chwkjourno
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