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NICOLE KLEINSTEUBER The IntelligencerEdna Henderson's 35-year-old painting of Union Road makes an appearance atCounty 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 tothem saying it should remain open.

Mounatin View road link troublesome to maintainNot so fast on Union Road, council told

Nicole KleinsteuberThe IntelligencerMOUNTAIN 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 closingthe 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 councilconsidering some quick solutions to maintaining the road.You should keep Union Road open, said Peggy Burris, of Hillier during herdeputation to the council committee. Burris said she used the road twice dailyas 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 drivefast 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 therat race in my daily commute.Coun. Robert Quiaff said there hadn't been any reports of motorist speeding inthe 13 years he has served on the police services board.Since January 1, 2009, there has only been one accident on Union Road whensomeone drove into the ditch, said Quaiff.Burris suggested council put a small culvert where the water comes down thehill and cover it with gravel creating gravel shoulders so cars travelling up the hillcan 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 trafficand 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 seecoming down the hill, said DeMille. They are on County property, cut themdown. I don't want the road closed. I would miss the traffic. If all of a suddenthere was no more traffic on your road what would you think?

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Coun. Kevin Gale supports the idea of finding cost effective ways to repair theroad and trimming the lilacs.Wesley Church is a church in a nice community, said Gale. Closing the dooris 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, iffilling potholes, trimming lilacs and putting a 'use at your own risk' sign wouldprotect council from future liability.The municipality can't sign its way out of liability, said McAuley. Use at yourown risk does not absolve a municipality of responsibility.Council will vote on a motion to decide the road's fate at its next meeting.