Bala Streetscape project - 2008

We have had a street overhaul here in Bala. It has been quite a project, with trucks, accidents, single-lane traffic, and now we have new shoulders and prettied up parking areas. The local paper cites costs of $515,000.





As I passed through Bala last week, I noticed a car having a bit of a meeting with a garbage truck.

The driver was trying to prevent a further accident as people were trying to get around the accident!

Traffic is ever a problem and will continue to be so. The Bala Streetscape project is rendering parking lots inaccessible, and taking over the street, too. People are in an awful hurry to motor around and through town, despite flagger trying to slow them down and protect them from trouble.


I was shocked to see the results of the Streetscape project. There are those in town who question the need for this project in times of cutbacks, low tourism dollars, and protests by taxpayers, and some cottagers, who would prefer to not spend money.

It is great that we can support the local contractors, but I question the need of trees, plants and shrubs across from The Kee, where it is not seen in the dark. While we walk in town almost every day, we really didn't need a sidewalk. The asphalt was quite adequate. We would prefer our money going to plowing the sidewalk in winter when we vie for walking space with snowmobiles!