Songhees Nation will install 20 speed limit signs and 6 dual language STOP signs on Lekwammen Dr, Camus Lane, and Upper and Lower Maplebank roads, to reach key goals below. Signs would be of high quality and visibility. We have divided Band 656 Songhees Nation residential roads into 4 distinct areas which can be tackled with 4 separate projects.
Key goals:
This is the first step in a long-term unified plan.
A dense residential population, narrow roads, no posted speeds, excess speed, hard-to-read sign faces, damaged and faded signage, a mix of community and indigenous use, and pedestrians and vehicles sharing the same roadways, are making unsafe conditions for all users on reserve land. This current four-grant application project is a first step to slow the speed limit, provide feedback on driving habits, calm traffic, and keep people safe and injury free. A short drive through Songhees Nation land easily provides evidence of the road safety need addressed. We have ten complete trailer parks testifying to residential density. Long-term we will widen roads and bring them up to a higher construction standard, lay down safe and wider sidewalks, and provide more walking and biking pathways.
The desired impact of the project will be to bring proper signage and bring down speed on all roadways to 20 km/hr, making roads safer for all road users, particularly in playground and dense residential areas, increasing safety and preventing serious injuries.
This project specifically targets the installation of twenty (20) 20 km/hr speed signs, six (6) stop signs and six (6) stop bars on Lekwammen Dr, Camus Lane, Upper Maplebank, and Lower Maplebank. Camus leads to a retirement park, and a mobile home park, and has a gate at the end and leads to a gated cemetary. Maplebank also needs No Trespassing signs. Upper Maplebank has a huge number of high-speed vehicles as it feeds into the Esquimalt graving dock through Songhees Nation which grants access to the site. Thousands of cars travel this road yearly. Up to 500 people could be hired for one project. There are an extraordinary number of delivery trucks and speeding vehicles. Extending from Upper Maplebank, Lower Maplebank leads to our Longhouse and cultural centre, which is the site of big events such as funerals and other cultural events. There is often seasonal traffic. On Lower Maplebank as well, is a transitional housing duplex where members' families with young children can stay for one year as they transition from homelessness or underhoused to suitable housing. The need to lower speed and provide proper signage is doubly important here. This is a gravel road and very narrow.
