LETHBRIDGE – With decades of experience hauling cattle, Les McIntyre often finds himself travelling throughout southern Alberta. He knows first-hand how dangerous the old intersection of Highways 23 and 519, near the town of Nobleford, could be.
A new roundabout was built in hopes of minimizing collisions, but two incidents in the past two weeks have some people questioning its design.
On Oct. 28, a fully-loaded cattle liner drove into the middle of the roundabout and fell on its side. Eleven cattle were killed on impact, five more had to be euthanized.
Eleven more cattle were killed Tuesday night when another cattle liner tipped over. Witnesses say the warning signs leading to the roundabout were covered by snow and ice.
READ MORE: 11 cattle killed at Nobleford roundabout after semi hauler flips
There are suggestions that in both incidents, the weight of the cattle in the trailer shifted, causing the accidents.
McIntyre isn’t so sure.
“They’re not moving around,” said McIntyre. “They’re packed in there kind of like people on a C-Train. So, there’s not that movement. Well, there is if you’re going too fast.”
While there are signs warning motorists of the roundabout, the veteran driver does concede they could be improved.
“Move the signage back from the intersection,” said McIntyre. “Probably about a kilometre.”
Critics of the roundabout will likely continue to questions both its design and safety, but McIntyre is convinced it can be navigated safely.
“If people slow down, pay attention, it’s a piece of cake.”
Comments