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Left-hand turn signal coming soon Jennifer Feinberg The Progress
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Chilliwack park users are being asked to not smoke while using local trails, including the Vedder Rotary Trail. Only 8.4 millimetres of rain has fallen this month, following the driest April to June on record. GREG KNILL/ PROGRESS
Water, smoking restrictions as dry weather continues Jennifer Feinberg The Progress The unrelenting heat has forced City of Chilliwack to move into Stage 3 Watering Restrictions, effective Monday, July 20. Lawn sprinkling is now limited to one morning a week, which puts City of Chilliwack more in line with other cities taking similar action. Anyone caught watering outside of the restricted hours will get a warning before receiving a $100 fine. “In order to be good stewards of our water resources, the City of Chilliwack has initiated stage 3 watering restrictions,” according to the news release Monday. Under these restrictions, residents are allowed to water one day
a week between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. Even numbered addresses can water on Wednesdays and odd numbered addresses on Thursdays. The province announced Wednesday that the ongoing drought for the south coast and Lower Fraser areas was at a level 4 — the highest possible drought rating. They’ve urged water users across B.C. to maximize water conservation. “Residents who do choose to water their lawns during these times should ensure they don’t unnecessarily water sidewalks or roads.” Flower and vegetable gardens, shrubs and trees can still be watered at any time using a spring-loaded hose adaptor, watering can, or soaker hose.
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For more details see chilliwack.com/WaterRestrictions. Violations of the watering restrictions can be reported to the Engineering Department at 604793-2907. Stage 3 Watering Restrictions details: Even number addresses Wednesday between 5 a.m. – 8 a.m. Odd number addresses Thursday between 5 a.m. – 8 a.m.
No smoking in tinder dry forested areas Smokers are being asked to employ common sense when walking or hiking the recreational trails around Chilliwack. ‘No smoking’ signs have been posted at all of the trailheads
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maintained by City of Chilliwack for a couple of weeks now. They were posted at the entrance point of about 30 trails in direct response to provincial alerts about the extreme forest fire risk, said city operations staff. The signs remind people not to smoke or have campfires, and they’re asking the public to comply. They have even upped patrols of maintenance personnel along the trails, who are finding too many cigarette butts still being carelessly discarded on the ground. It’s considered worrisome that people are still risking fires by smoking in a tinder-dry forested area, and if they do smoke despite the signs, they are asked to removed every cigarette butt and not to leave any along the trails.
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Some motorists stuck in traffic on the way to Cultus Lake were fuming over the weekend in Chilliwack. Traffic tie-ups at the Vedder Bridge backed things up to Keith Wilson Road and beyond. Last week a ruling by Worksafe BC prohibited the use of traffic control personnel at two spots near the Vedder Bridge, due to safety reasons. Within a day or so, City of Chilliwack staff brainstormed an interim solution by installing a traffic light that could be manually controlled by staff on the weekends to help keep the heavy traffic moving. “They managed to hand-craft a traffic control device with the equipment parts they had available, in time for the weekend, but there was no left turn signal option, and they knew that would be a sticking point,” said Mayor Sharon Gaetz. “It was done quickly, to get something in place and the part was ordered.” Drivers trying to turn onto Chilliwack Lake Road from Vedder Road over the weekend did create congestion as they waited to turn, sometimes as far back as Promontory Road. City staff have confirmed it won’t be possible to install a dedicated left turn lane, but the light can be modified. A part that will effectively add a left turn option to the light signal was due to be installed later this week, said Gaetz. “I cannot imagine what the weekend was like near the bridge, especially for anyone without air conditioning in their vehicle. I understand there were lineups and people were frustrated,” she said. “We can’t do anything about the ruling by Worksafe and we hope the public will be patient, and avoid the area if at all possible.”