BAY ROBERTS, NL – ATVs will soon be allowed on select Bay Roberts roads.
At least for a little while.
That was after the Bay Roberts Council approved a six-month pilot that would designate two routes across town as ATV-friendly. It follows similar moves from other cities in the Conception Bay North region and throughout the province.
“My idea of a pilot project is six months. But anytime it doesn’t work for our community, be it a month or two months, we can look back at it, ”said Walter Yetman, Mayor of Bay Roberts.
The first of these routes allows users to navigate Bay Roberts Drive and Eric Dawe Drive before reconnecting to the old railroad that runs through parts of the city.
“My idea of a pilot project is six months. But if it doesn’t work for our community, be it a month or two months, we can always look back at it. ”- Walter Yetman
The other route takes ATVs through part of Shearstown Road before joining the Cathills area and LT Stick Drive.
Acceptance of the pilot and use of these routes is subject to an agreement between three parties – Bay Roberts, Spaniard’s Bay and the provincial government – to remove the barricades from the Shearstown estuary of the railroad.
A third route has been identified as viable by the city, but is subject to discussions with the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure prior to approval. That’s because it goes through the Shearstown Estuary and then up the Conception Bay Highway.
Bay Roberts has also passed a number of regulations that state that users must follow the Highway Traffic Act, vehicles must be registered, and permitted vehicles do not include snowmobiles and off-road motorcycles.
The decision to approve both the routes and the following regulations was made after a 4-2 vote.
Deputy Mayor Geoff Seymour and Coun. Perry Bowering were the only votes against the motion.
“I see this as a high risk, low reward situation,” said Seymour.
The city has undertaken to re-examine the project after the six months have elapsed.
Nicholas Mercer is responsible for Conception Bay North for SaltWire Network.
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