Residents fighting to slow traffic in their neighbourhood

MONTREAL – Several young children fear a quiet West Island residential street they play on is turning into a speedway for motorists.

“I don’t want to die,” one young girl said as she was playing ball hockey on Jasper Road in Beaconsfield.

Residents on the road are calling for new calming measures be installed on the one kilometre long street that stretches from Beaconsfield Boulevard to Beaurepaire Drive.

There is already one speed bump at the southern end of the street but nothing for the next 800 meters and only two stop signs running the entire length.

People who live here say they are constantly trying to get drivers to slow down without success.

They have also complaints with the city and Station 1 of the Montreal Police Deptartment that serves the town.

“They have a book of complaints this thick,” said Richard Denoncourt, a nearby resident, while separating his thumb and index finger by several inches.

A petition to install speed bumps was held but defeated.

Still, Denoncourt is not giving up.

The 25-year resident wants some traffic calming measures put in place to slow down speeders.

“They don’t seem to care much.

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“They’re very aware of this problem…no one does anything,” he said.

Beaconsfield Mayor George Bourelle insists he has taken notice and is aware of the problem. However, he refuses to install speed bumps on the street in the immediate future.

“Quite often, the people that are speeding are the residents on the street that are also asking for speed  bumps.”

Other residents on nearby Hansen Avenue also want speed bumps installed to slow the traffic.

“I’d love to have speed bumps,” three-year resident Eric Sheffren said.

While new speed bumps may not be coming on the two roads any time soon, the mayor admits more traffic signs warning people to slow down and that children are at play could be installed.