Private driveway gets heavy use as 'local traffic' turnaround

Nanditta Colbear is calling it a case of "collective stupidity," after watching "another five vehicles — some with bikes, some with kayaks — just not heeding the closure notice," pull off Highway 64 onto her property in search of a place to turn around — all while responding to a message from BayToday. 

Colbear's typically tranquil property has been inundated with vehicle after vehicle seeking to use her private driveway to turn around to head back in the other direction after (she guesses) drivers accept that they cannot pass through the road closure clearly marked for kilometres. The MTO has been planning the work for months and has advertised the temporary road closure of Highway 64, south of the junction of Highway 575 at Field.

For more on the Highway 64 closure see article dated July 7: Detour will be in place as section of Highway 64 closed next week 

"People are ignoring the road closure in the middle of Highway 64 just past Crystal Falls," Colbear says. "The highway is fully closed just past my house. The sign says 'Local traffic only.'"

The highway has been closed since Monday and Colbear posted the above photo to her social media Wednesday with the tag: "Highway 64 is closed and people are not aware. We have had traffic all day and yesterday. They have to turn at the top of our driveway. Now, this poor guy is stuck. He has been trying for 15 minutes to turn around. No luck. Still here trying to find a way."

At least the driver of the tractor-trailer came to the door and asked permission, she shares.

"It was painful for him trying to get his rig turned. Needless to say, our driveway and lawn and one flower bed took a hit. It would not have been safe for him to drive in reverse [back down Highway 64] at 9 p.m." 

Messages from BayToday to the MTO for comment were not immediately returned.

Colbear says the detour is clearly marked — multiple times — on the access points to the construction zone past her property.

"Drivers keep coming up thinking they can go if locals can go. Once they go past my house they realize the highway is closed. There is one more house past mine where the road is closed. Most are able to turn around and go. But transports like the one you see cannot," explains Colbear. "They would have to travel in reverse for about three kilometres along a winding road to find another private lawn that could offer a chance to turn."

Colbear says, so far, there have been no major incidents.

"Luckily, it was the first transport of this size. We have had large trucks pulling motor homes or huge boats that have run into trouble trying to turn around."