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LETTER: We need a turning lane into hospital from Great Northern

'Can you imagine a frantic mother rushing a sick child to the hospital only to have to wait for traffic stopped at the stop light,' writes Dennis Catania.
Sault Area Hospital stock-2
Sault Area Hospital file photo. Donna Hopper/SooToday

SooToday received the following letter about access to the hospital driving north along Great Northern Road.

Ever since the new hospital was built, I have wondered why the city failed to build a turning lane into the hospital when proceeding north along Great Northern Road.

How many times have we seen an ambulance having to do a wide detour around stopped traffic at the lights?

I have emailed our MP and our MPP, but have never received a reply. I’ve spoken to a city engineer and she had agreed with me that there should be a dedicated turning lane.

Can you imagine a frantic mother rushing a sick child to the hospital only to have to wait for traffic stopped at the stop light?

The Ontario government owns the vacant lawn in front of the OPP station. What would it take to convert 50 feet of that unused land to build a turning lane?

Someone in their wisdom decided to build a turning lane into the hospital if you’re approaching the entrance from the north and they even installed an advanced light!

However, where does the majority of the hospital and ambulance traffic come from? Maybe the new mayor and council can get things rolling because Mr. Sheehan and Mr. Romano don’t seem interested.

Dennis Catania
Sault Ste. Marie


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