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The Collector Hwy #13

Posted by CL1368 on September 20, 2007 - 12:00pm

Further to garym’s blog “The Bicycle Highway”, I’m surprised no one has yet identified the bigger picture regarding the upcoming upgrades to County Road 13 from Ferndale to Southampton.

On September 2, 2004 Bruce County Council released its Revised Bruce County Road Designation Study Final Report. This report states that the councils of Northern and South Bruce Peninsula support a Collector Road from the Oliphant corner on County Road 13 to County Road 9 west of Ferndale. Schedule D of this report sets out budget costs of over $8 million for this upgrade (2004 figures).

Over a year ago, the County assumed ownership and responsibility for the town road from Oliphant to Howdenvale in a swap of roads that included a trade of the road to Cape Croker. Check the interactive “Bruce County Map Factory” for current County Road designations.

The Official Plan Amendment No. 99 was read a third time and passed at Bruce County Council on September 7th, 2007 which amended Schedule B by changing the existing Local Road through Red Bay to the north limit of Howdenvale to a Collector Road designation. At an earlier public meeting that was held to address this OPA, only one lone cottager from Howdenvale objected to the upgrade designation to a Collector Road and the impending traffic and construction. No-one seemed interested in the re-direction of tourism, commerce and traffic from Wiarton through Sauble Beach.

The County now has the way paved for widening, straightening, and extending County Road 13 to bring quarry truck traffic from the Howdenvale and north Wiarton areas through Sauble to Hwy 21. In addition, the County stated that it will help to alleviate ferry traffic congestion and limited access due to winter road conditions along Highway 6 between Wiarton and Ferndale. Lately, this month, they have indicated a time frame “within the next 5 years” after completion of the County Line upgrades from Hwy 21 to Scone this year.

Another interesting aspect regarding the Bruce County Official Plan is that under s.4.6.3.2, the County shall restrict development which will inhibit the expeditious movement of traffic along the Collector Road system by limiting access to those uses that will not impede the flow of traffic.

Although this will provide for a west coast alternative to Hwy 6 similar to that provided by County Road 9 on the east side of the peninsula, the County has not considered that County Road 13 is a shoreline road through Red Bay and Howdenvale and has a lot of relaxed pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Perhaps, if the County will consider ANY portion of County Road 13 for a bike path, we’ll get it from Howdenvale to Red Bay South where the traffic would hopefully remain somewhat close to the posted speed of 50 km/hr. At least County has approved the designation of a “Community Safety Zone” through the Red Bay area, which means that police double the speeding fines.

Does anyone really want to bicycle along a major Collector Road with potentially triple the current traffic load and actual average speed of 90 km/hr?

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County Rd 9 Is A Great Bicycle Road

Submitted by Dodge on September 20, 2007 - 1:49pm.

That was an interesting post CL1368. I love to give my Roubaix Comp some exercise around the Bruce. Mornings I like to run Spring Creek Road from Sauble to Hepworth and back and I get the heart monitor readout spun up on a short sprint like that. Sometimes I ride up around Oliphant and can catch Ana out on her deck as I go by and stop for a chat.

Bruce Rd 9 is a popular bike route for bicycle tourists coming from out west and headed to the Maritimes or ferry bound going the other way. My times on that road are filled with memories of pulling along side riders and having a chat about their trip. They are likely to be from Europe and may have come through Northern Ontario or they may be Canadians on tour. Point is that road works well for bikes and the traffic is tolerable. Way better than Highway 6 which I avoid. If BR 9 works this well then the mirror image on the west side can only add to the Bruce experience.

One of the nicest rides across the peninsula is the Barrow Bay, Little Pike Bay Road. Coming west up past the Ferndale windmill(s) I could always see the evidence how much of a west wind I was pushing and there is a long stretch of level new pavement on the Little Pike Bay Road that begs you to run flat out as hard as you can and never let off.

One thing I love about that Roubaix is that every single muscle flex motion is transferred through the pedals right to where the rubber touches the road. Nothing is lost to squirm or flex. It is a joy to ride and it loves to run. One thing about crossing west on Little Pike is that you run into a problem. There is no paved road south to get back down to Howdenvale. Now the carbon fiber in the Roubaix soaks up a lot of vibration but it still just does not like dirt roads. Turns it nose up at them.

The only current alternative is to cross back east to BR9 or (gulp) go out to Highway 6 and head south. Back on 9 you still can't cross west to pick up pavement unless you cover the dirt Mar Sideroad north of Berford Lake and pick up the Red Bay Road. I've done that. There are some great hills on Red Bay Rd running into Sky Lake. Well as good as we get in the Bruce anyway. From there you have a route south again.

I turn 60 in just a few days now and the thought of having a new road and all that new pavement down the west side is just a great birthday present even if I have to wait for it. There is something about riding a new road for the first time that makes you feel almost born again. It is the sights and the smells of the Bruce and a fine fast bike to ride that puts it all together. I count myself lucky that I can enjoy this any day I choose in the season.

As you see I have reasons for advocating building that west road. As far as bicycles go every road is a compromise with many traffic variables. You do what you can to minimize the danger in traffic but there is no perfect solution. My experience with Bruce Road 9 leads me to believe that a mirror image road makes sense. It won't be the same of course. Riding north from Lion's Head gives one a most scenic view of Georgian Bay. I doubt if they can duplicate that on the west side. I wonder what they can do to make the Red Bay swamp look as good.