YG pledges to hop to it for a safer Rabbit’s Foot Canyon
The Yukon government is promising some safety changes to the Alaska Highway near Rabbit’s Foot Canyon.
The Yukon government is promising some safety changes to the Alaska Highway near Rabbit’s Foot Canyon.
Nils Clarke, the minister of Highways and Public Works, was responding to a petition last week in the legislature when he made the promise.
“The Alaska Highway is not just another road; it is Yukon’s primary supply route and a lifeline for so many of our communities,” Clarke said.
“It is also the busiest stretch of highway in the Yukon. As a government, we are committed to a people-centred approach that builds healthy, vibrant, sustainable communities throughout the territory.
“Our government is also prioritizing the safety and well-being of Yukoners, and that includes the safety on our roads.”
The government has been making a number of safety improvements along the highway through Whitehorse, Clarke added.
“Determining how to best improve highway safety for vehicles and pedestrians is part of that process, including at key intersections.
“We have already closed a number of unsafe accesses and added turning lanes, which makes it safer for vehicles going on and off the highway.
“In our most recent project, we also reduced the speed limit to 60 kilometres per hour in the Whitehorse airport area, Clarke added.
“I want to assure the members opposite that improvements to the section of highway around Fish Lake Road and Raven’s Ridge is just one more of the many important projects being considered by the department.”
A small concrete island with yellow-and-black traffic signs, which had been installed in the middle of the highway several years ago, has been removed.
“In fact, following our work on the highway around Robert Service Way and Porter Creek, we will begin the important engagement and planning for the section between Two Mile Hill and Centennial Street,” Clarke said.
“But before designing any changes here, we first want to hear from residents, from cyclists, from those who commute on the highway, from the business community, and from the broader community as well,” he said.
“It is because this section of highway is so important that we need to get it right,” the minister added.
“We will do this through public outreach, comprehensive functional planning, and working with the City of Whitehorse to ensure the safety and greatest common benefit for all users of the highway, including pedestrians and trail users.”
Comments (20)
Up 6 Down 2
Mitch Holder on May 12, 2022 at 3:35 pm
Wow, there are some cheap cyclists on here. You can afford a 5000 dollar fat tire bike, but whine about insurance?
Up 7 Down 7
Mitch Holder on May 11, 2022 at 10:40 am
@ Bicycos - Can you cite me where I said that I support unlawful road use? Not sure where you are getting that from, indeed, I am not sure how you got on bikes to begin with, given this article is about improving road conditions in Rabbit's Foot Canyon. I was just taking you to task on your cyclist bias. I ride a granny bike on trails and go on picnics, confident I have never impeded your use of the road. More likely, you have impeded my use of the road. And how would you answer for that?
Up 3 Down 14
Mitch Holder on May 10, 2022 at 4:27 pm
To summarize, as I previously indicated, I have no problem with the introduction of bicycle insurance, licensing and registration. Which says a lot more about me than it does about you.
Up 0 Down 13
Mitch Holder on May 10, 2022 at 4:26 pm
@ Try cyclic depressants - Don't know where you are getting that from. When you see me do any of those things, you be sure to let me know. I replace tires every season because drunks fill the streets and trails broken glass empties. I think if we all pay tax for the road, the road should be equally accessible, to ALL ROAD USERS AND TAXPAYERS. Whatever other narrative you are attempting to extrapolate from that is your own willful ignorance.
Try pedestrian depressants and never leave your home without a helmet, safes-space.
Up 12 Down 7
Bicycos! Stay in your lane. on May 10, 2022 at 2:39 pm
At Mitch Holder on May 9, 2022 at 4:45 pm:
It’s quite simple Mitch - Follow the rules of the road. Bicyclers should be aggressively and regularly targeted through safety campaigns. People who attempt to hold society hostage with threats of continued unlawful behaviour until they get their way should be sent to one of Trudeau’s re-education camps.
It really is as simple as enforcing the existing rules Mitch. No need to paint signs on the road or in separate bike lanes. Follow the rules. You do however point out the need for certification in bicycle safety/etiquette. Perhaps licensing should also be part of managing the cycling problem on our roads.
Up 19 Down 3
Try cyclic depressants… on May 9, 2022 at 7:11 pm
WTF? Is the Mitch Holder forum? To Mitch Holder on May 9, 2022 at 3:33 pm:
Wow! We are supposed to share the road but here you are suggesting that cyclers will do whatever they want regardless of the rules?
Wow! I’d now like to see bicyclers pay more for the shear arrogance of their entitlements as expressed by MH. Given MH’s declaration of continued rule violations until his demands are met I would suggest that an outright ban on bicycles from public roads is necessary.
This is why they ride 2, 3, or 4 abreast… Arrogance. This sounds very concerning MH. Ride single file, use hand signals, wear reflective clothing, and stay in your lane… Oh ya, walk your bike across the crosswalks!
Up 3 Down 12
Mitch Holder on May 9, 2022 at 4:45 pm
@ Groucho - Agreed, there are those who ruin it for everyone. Unlike Stay in Your Lane, you have articulated a viable problem and offered a productive solution. I HAVE NO PROBLEM PAYING MORE IN ROAD TAXATION FOR BIKE USE, OR WITH LICENSING OR REGISTRY, or at least I won't on the day we are actually provided roads that amount to what we pay for and I say that for all road users, including cyclists.
Up 3 Down 23
Mitch Holder on May 9, 2022 at 3:33 pm
@ Stay in your Lane - build a lane into every street that is swept, devoid of glass and lit and plowed 24/7/365 that is exclusively for bicycles and we will pay proportionally.
Up 28 Down 16
Stay in your lane! on May 9, 2022 at 12:02 pm
Agreed - Groucho d'North on May 7, 2022 at 10:08 am:
Bicycle riders who use public roads should be required to have insurance. When they are involved in an accident blame should be apportioned accordingly. Follow the rules of the road or get off them! There should be bike bans and they should be charged administratively, civilly, and criminally where appropriate.
They should required to carry similar liability insurance.
Up 10 Down 5
Max Mack on May 9, 2022 at 10:36 am
Lower speed limits inbound.
Cause when the only tool you have is a hammer . . .
Up 49 Down 14
Groucho d'North on May 7, 2022 at 10:08 am
Perhaps if the Mounties enforced the single file bike riding law, our roadways would be safer for them. I often see bikers riding two, three and even four abreast. When one of them gets hit by a vehicle, who do you think will be at fault? Paint some "Ride Single File" reminders on the pavement for the short memory folks too.
Up 12 Down 16
Rachael Cardiff on May 6, 2022 at 11:15 pm
The cliffs create icy conditions. The road design needs to reduce the risks.
Up 27 Down 19
Matthew on May 6, 2022 at 7:09 pm
So... what's wrong with it!? LOL! Seems like liberals looking for things to fix that aren't actually broken.. .
Up 29 Down 41
bonanzajoe on May 6, 2022 at 6:55 pm
Drop the speed limit to 70 through to the end of PC. It doesn't have to be 90.
Up 7 Down 15
Kimpton Gagnon on May 6, 2022 at 6:34 pm
It would be nice if they would look at Lodgepole Lane on the other end of Rabbit Foot Canyon. I have been living there for 3 years and I experiencing lots of problems and near misses on a weekly basis. Extremely dangerous for vehicles entering and exiting and for the children living in the neighborhood to access the transit system.
Up 19 Down 7
Charlie's Aunt on May 6, 2022 at 6:22 pm
Biggest problem I see through Rabbit's Foot is impatient drivers who exceed speed limit to overtake. All that usually gets them is being one car ahead of you when stopped at a red light. Vehicles turning left when exiting the dump & Fish Lake Rd can be problematic also those exiting 12th Avenue, but latter is scheduled to be altered at a later date.
Up 15 Down 9
K Brackett on May 6, 2022 at 5:28 pm
How about real lights, instead of the ones that are used for pedestrian crossing on front of The Smoke and Sow. More and more traffic trying to turn left onto the highway.
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Olav on May 6, 2022 at 5:18 pm
The AK through Whitehorse is a joke.
The purpose of highways is to move traffic between points.
The recent addition of numerous sets of lights through the airport section is plain stupid. And the lights appear to be triggered as soon as a vehicle entering the highway approaches the respective light.
The proposed road work for the section though Porter Creek will have three traffic light stops on the AK highway in a 3km stretch.
That's right, the Super A intersection, Goody’s intersection and the church intersection are all slated for traffic lights.
Totally unacceptable on a major highway.
Up 42 Down 22
Daily bunny driver on May 6, 2022 at 4:10 pm
Well. Have a damn slow lane! For the ones that drive 20-40 . And have a passing lane for the ones who enjoy doing the speed limit. Also everyone from Whistle bend likes to drive to PC and take up the road and drive 30 under the speed limit. They need Range Road worked on. Need more lanes. Space for the loaders that need to drive on the highway. And for bike lanes, well most of the drivers already drive in that lane so best to remove the bike lane. Not safe for them. Have a path like two mile has, just like the walking path/bike path. Better lights too.
Up 8 Down 41
Mitch Holder on May 6, 2022 at 3:46 pm
Develop zoning around either end and fill it in with critically needed commercial infrastructure, then you can amend the speed limits - since you will be changing the canyon up anyway and regardless of whether or not you transform the corridor, you will in all likelihood, reduce the speed to another school zone.