NICOLE KLEINSTEUBER The Intelligencer

Edna Henderson's 35-year-old painting of Union Road makes an appearance at County council, Thursday, in Picton. Peggy Burris (left) of Hiller and Al Harott (right), of Wellington, used the artwork to illustrate to council how important the road is to them saying it should remain open.

Mounatin View road link troublesome to maintain Not so fast on Union Road, council told Nicole Kleinsteuber The Intelligencer MOUNTAIN VIEW It's no secret to those who travel the County's Union Road, the scenic and bumpy short cut off of County Road 2 needs work and lots of it. At its committee of the whole meeting this week, council voted against closing the shortcut to Highway 62 after some residents complained about safety, speeding and high volumes of traffic. But a few hundred signatures in support of keeping the road open has council considering some quick solutions to maintaining the road. You should keep Union Road open, said Peggy Burris, of Hillier during her deputation to the council committee. Burris said she used the road twice daily as a commuter for 35 years and still travels on it to Belleville. It may be a shortcut, but is rarely a time saver, said Burris. You cannot drive fast on it because of the corners and the visibility and speed bumps on the lower section. I use it because it is a short moment of tranquillity, an escape from the rat race in my daily commute. Coun. Robert Quiaff said there hadn't been any reports of motorist speeding in the 13 years he has served on the police services board. Since January 1, 2009, there has only been one accident on Union Road when someone drove into the ditch, said Quaiff. Burris suggested council put a small culvert where the water comes down the hill and cover it with gravel creating gravel shoulders so cars travelling up the hill can squeeze closer to the cliff side; erect signage that warns travellers of a blind corner and informing them to yield for oncoming traffic; erect a larger 'no truck' sign, remove the hedges and trees that obstruct driver's view of oncoming traffic and smooth out speed bumps near canopy road. Don DeMille lives on Union Road and he agreed the road needs work. The lilac bushes at the end of my driveway make it hard for drivers to see coming down the hill, said DeMille. They are on County property, cut them down. I don't want the road closed. I would miss the traffic. If all of a sudden there was no more traffic on your road what would you think?

Coun. Kevin Gale supports the idea of finding cost effective ways to repair the road and trimming the lilacs. Wesley Church is a church in a nice community, said Gale. Closing the door is sending the wrong message to the community. I like cars going by my house. I like to give my county waive while I'm cutting my grass and I like to think the traffic going by is important. Coun. Nick Nowitski asked the commissioner of public works, Robert McAuley, if filling potholes, trimming lilacs and putting a 'use at your own risk' sign would protect council from future liability. The municipality can't sign its way out of liability, said McAuley. Use at your own risk does not absolve a municipality of responsibility. Council will vote on a motion to decide the road's fate at its next meeting.