Wind warnings in effect

Mayor Brian Button and Tom Hedderson, minister of transportation and works, unveiled digital warning signs on the Trans-Canada Highway on Nov. 12.

One of the signs is just east of town, not far from the Visitor Information Centre. The second is approximately 47 kilometres from Port aux Basques near Mollichignick River Bridge in the Codroy Valley. The total cost was approximately $100,000.

Information about wind speed and direction will be updated every 10 minutes by a nearby Environment Canada weather station. The sign will not only display wind warnings, but also messages about impaired driving, hand-held mobile devices and winter driving conditions.

Wayne Osmond has been pushing for signs like these for about 10 years. A resident of Cape Ray, Mr. Osmond has kept a blog since 2005. He said that’s one of the things he has pushed on his blog. After big windstorms, he would go out and take photos.

He said he always saw an accident. Sometimes he saw two or three.

Mr. Osmond worked with the railway for 16 years. Throughout the years he saw trains and boxcars blown off the track.

“I think in this day and age with the modern technology, we can do better,” he said.

The sun shone brightly when people gathered by the side of the highway to see the new sign. In the glare of the light, it was difficult to read the information. People backed away so they could read the red words flashing across the screen.

The glare didn’t bother Mayor Button.

“When it’s a gorgeous sunny day and the sun is beaming down, it doesn’t really matter because the sun is going to be making turns throughout the day,” he said. “It doesn’t matter which way you put the sign.”

Mayor Button said the signs are a major announcement because the work to get them has been ongoing for a number of years. About five years ago, the Marine and Mountain Zone Corporation partnered with the town to talk about getting signs, he explained.

The signs aren’t just for Port aux Basques but for the entire province, said Mayor Button. They’re also for people who come from away to tour the province.

Twenty-one years ago, Mayor Button worked in Halifax. He remembers telling people about the Wreckhouse area. They were skeptical.

“They said, ‘Oh yeah, sure, vehicles blow off the road up there,’” said Mayor Button.

Mayor Button said people come into the province and don’t understand the extent of the Wreckhouse winds. Mr. Osmond agrees.

The Wreckhouse was always considered in the St. George’s area,” he explained. “We had tourists get off the boat in Port aux Basques and not expect to get anything until 140 kilometres away, but yet 20 kilometres out they have an accident.”

Eventually the minister and his department would like for people to be able to access and wind speed and weather driving conditions on their smart phones, said Mayor Button. People will then be able to see what the signs are reporting.

Mr. Osmond said he’s glad to see the signs. He thinks they’re a step in the right direction but won’t stop all the accidents.