After dropping the speed limit on a four-kilometre stretch of B-Line Road, the Township of Laurentian Valley council voted to raise the speed limit.

On the recommendation of the township’s former public works manager, David Saunders, council passed a bylaw last December to impose new speed limits on certain roads in the municipality.

At the end of June the public works department moved forward and implemented the first new lowered limit on B-Line between Russham Road and Pembroke Street West.

However, days after lowering the speed limit, the township’s staff and council received several complaints.

The former limit along on the section of road was 80 km/h excluding a .57 km stretch at the northern end of the roadway which was 60 km/h.

“We did install the signs and the phone rang,” said Mark Behm, the township’s public works manager.

Behm explained to council the Ontario Provincial Police called him regarding the speed limit change.

In his report to council, Behm writes the Highway Traffic Act states that the speed limit for urban/built-up areas shall be 50 km/h and 80 km/h in rural areas.

He told council that some areas along this 4.09 km section of B Line Road did not meet the criteria of an urban/built- up area.

He recommended that the speed limit from Russham Road to Pembroke Street West be amended.

“It is recommended that the speed limit from Russham Road to Forest Road Lea Road be changed to 70 km/h,” said Behm.

The township will leave the portion between Forest Lea Road and Pembroke Street West at 50 km/h.

“Should further development occur along this section of roadway, the speed limit can be reviewed and considered for a further reduction at that time.”

The township will be reviewing all of the speed limit changes recommended in the bylaw passed in December to ensure the limits conform to the Highway Traffic Act.

Cyndi Mills is a Daily Observer multimedia journalist

cyndi.mills@sunmedia.ca