Road ‘closure’ mistake bad news for Stouffville golf business
YorkRegion.com
July 29, 2016
Ali Raza
A temporary road closure at Ninth Line has a well-known local business worried about the rest of its summer.
On June 21, Whitchurch-Stouffville council approved the temporary closure of Bayberry Street at Ninth Line and Baker Hill Boulevard at Ninth Line for the construction of a roundabout at that intersection.
But since signs have been put up, it’s only frustrated the Timber Creek Golf & Family Fun Centre at 12772 Ninth Line, just north of the intersection. The frustration grew because the signs erroneously say Ninth Line is closed from Bayberry Street to Bethesda Side Road, completely cutting off Timber Creek from road access.
“That’s saying the road is closed between the two intersections,” said co-owner Lois Reesor.
“That’s not the case, now we’re getting phone calls from customers asking what’s going on or if we’re closing.”
Reesor said they’re a seasonal business that is most popular during July and August. The intersection closure comes at a peak time for Timber Creek. Construction is slated to end along with summer, which affects Timber Creek’s customers and additional seasonal staff hired for the summer.
Reports submitted to council include plans to create a detour, which would require visitors to Timber Creek to enter from the north side. But the golf course is just 20 yards away from Bayberry, cutting off the quickest, easiest access.
“A good chunk of my summer staff ride their bikes here every day,” Reesor said. “I have school buses that come in here on a daily basis; people even walk here because we’re so close to town.”
“We’re not happy,” she added.
Construction has now begun; the erroneous signs were erected in accordance with a permit given to the contractor by the Regional Municipality of York.
“We are working with the region to correct the signs,” town engineer and manager of engineering services Dave Kenth said Wednesday. “The new signs will speak to the lane reduction along Ninth Line instead of a road closure.”
Emails to the region asking for comment were not returned by The Sun-Tribune’s deadline on Wednesday. (See the region's response at right.)
For Reesor and staff at Timber Creek, it’s an adjustment that costs time, money and trust in local government.
SIDEBAR
Statement from Nelson Costa, Region of York's manager, corridor control and safety:
"Ninth Line is a regional road, however the roundabout construction project is being led by the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville as it is associated with a subdivision development on the west side of Ninth Line. All signs associated with the construction activity are controlled by the contractor.
"Instruction has been given for the signs to be changed to inform motorists that Ninth Line is reduced to one lane. The intersection of Ninth Line and Bayberry is partially open to all traffic approaching the intersection."
