Gabriola Fire asking Transportation Ministry to ensure Gabriola roadsides are mowed

Derek Kilbourn

Sounder News

Gabriola Fire Chief Will Sprogis is encouraging the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to improve the mowing alongside Gabriola roadways.

Sprogis said this past week, MOTI typically does the mowing in the early spring – however, not all of Gabriola’s roads were completed in time for fire season.

Sprogis said the concern from the Fire Department perspective is not having the roadsides mowed increases the fuel load alongside roadways.

Another problem is that the mowing also includes clearing of overgrown brush (such as blackberries).

Not having those brushes cleared back, and longer grass, puts obstacles in the way of pedestrians and non-motorized users of the roads.

It blocks vehicle drivers’ views of pedestrians, and means anyone needing to move off the road to get out of the way of a vehicle has no where to go.

In an update to the road surfacing issue, Sprogis said there is word from MOTI that some patching will be done along North Road.

The Fire Department has been asking the public to continue to put pressure on MOTI to improve road surfacing on Gabriola, in particular the potholes,  and roads where there is no shoulders.