Residents are concerned about the narrow lanes semi trucks leave by parking along Highway 2/First Ave. through Watrous. (Submitted photo/Gerald Worobec)

By paNOW Staff

Traffic concerns

Watrous residents looking for answers after parked semi trucks cause safety issues along Highway 2

Jul 10, 2024 | 2:19 PM

Watrous is a thriving economic centre based upon agriculture, tourism, mining and industry, but that hustle has brought with it an unwelcome consequence. In recent years, more semi-trucks have been parking along either side of Highway 2 which runs through the edge of town and that’s led to major safety concerns from citizens.

Long-time resident and former mayor of nearby Resort Village of Manitou, Gerald Worobec said the semi drivers park on both shoulders of the highway when they stay at hotels along that roadway, also known as First Avenue in Watrous.

“It’s a visibility issue for both pedestrian and automotive traffic. They have to come way out onto the street to see if there is oncoming traffic,” Worobec said. “In the wintertime, it’s horrendous to try and clear a path with all these trucks on either side of the highway. You could barely pass through there with your vehicle because it’s so narrow.”

On July 4, just before midnight, a 32-year-old woman from Watrous died when the truck she was driving collided with a parked semi. The cause of the crash remains under investigation by local RCMP and the Saskatchewan RCMP collision reconstructionist. As such, police were unable to provide any comment on a potential cause or mitigating factor.

Worobec said it’s dangerous for any driver passing by, particularly at night because the semis don’t have hazards on, and reflective strips are often muted by the dirt on the gravel trucks. He claims some truck drivers have also disregarded parking signs along the highway through town.

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“The drivers sometimes have their hoods open, and they’re working on their engines and there’s pedestrian traffic around as they visit and it’s not a matter of if something happens, it’s when.”

Concerned residents say the parked semi trucks cause traffic and pedestrian safety issues. (submitted photo/Gerald Worobec)

In an email to paNOW, SGI confirmed ‘a vehicle stopped on a highway outside of city limits must stop more than 30 metres (98 ft) from any vehicles stopped on the opposite side of the road or highway. This only applies to vehicles stopped on opposing sides of the highway as to leave ample room for vehicles travelling on the highway. This does not apply to vehicles stopped on the same side of the highway.’

Worobec estimates there is no more than 30 feet between semi’s parked on opposite sides.

(Teena Monteleone, paNOW Staff)

The Saskatchewan Driver’s Handbook also states vehicles stopped on rural roads or highways at night must be marked with flares, hazard lights or reflectors.

The Ministry of Highways told paNOW its Customer Service Centre has received two inquiries about the parking problem but forwarded any other questions by the media to the RCMP since they said it is an ‘enforcement issue.’

A spokesperson for the RCMP confirmed the Watrous detachment has received several reports this year about trucks parked on the side of the highway. However, no criminal charges or tickets under provincial statutes were issued in relation to the investigations.

In an email to paNOW, RCMP wrote, ‘Parking within municipal limits is typically governed by bylaw. Watrous RCMP encourages anyone who observes a parked vehicle they believe to be a hazard to traffic safety to call them at 310-RCMP.”

Worobec said until someone takes ownership on enforcement, the problem will only get worse. Last summer, CN announced it will construct a 47-kilometre-long rail spur connecting BHP Jansen Potash Mine with CN’s Watrous Subdivision. The project is expected to bring significant economic value to the area, but Worobec said it also means the highway will get that much busier during and after construction.

“There needs to be a significant amount of key players involved and around the table to figure this out. The town, highways, all the mining, rail and gravel companies utilizing these semi-trucks… there needs to be a big round table initiated here to get the problem solved.”

In the meantime, Worobec said there are parking options nearby that aren’t along the highway and he wondered why some of the nearby mines couldn’t leave the semi’s at the worksite and transport the drivers to and from town with a shuttle.

“There’s been a lot of talk about the economic impact of these guys. They’re going downtown spending money, eating meals, paying for their hotel rooms and so on. But now public safety is at risk and we just had this accident, so does one outweigh the other? Well, that’s a pretty clear answer, right? So, I think it’s time for something to be done.”

He said the best solution is to keep the semi trucks completely out of everyone’s way.

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panews@pattisonmedia.com