Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

IQALUIT (Nov 01/99) - Brenda Mowbray used to walk along the Road to Nowhere for exercise and relaxation.

Now, when she dares at all to venture onto the road, she does so nervously and with the belief that what she's doing is dangerous.

"These trucks come barrelling up and down the road. In an hour's walk, there must be 10 trucks going back and forth and they are going fast," said Mowbray, referring to the huge construction vehicles used by Kudlik Construction to build Iqaluit's new $4-million, Town-driven subdivision on the Road to Nowhere.

"They're driving faster than what is safe and they're full of rock and sand and you can see the rocks wobbling over the top," said Mowbray.

Complaints about the subdivision aren't new. When it was initially proposed earlier this year, residents opposed the idea because of the perceived loss of recreational space to pick berries, camp and picnic.

Municipal officials reassured residents that only a small amount of the area would be lost and the remaining area would continue to be open for public use.

But Mowbray said that because of the reckless manner in which the trucks were driving, the Town should close the road before children or other residents were hurt.

"You get these trucks behind you or ones coming in the other direction ... these trucks have no intention of stopping. It's you who has to stop," said Mowbray.

Not satisfied to let the problem follow its own course, she took her complaints to the municipality.

Town engineer Denis Bedard responded and said the municipality wanted to direct traffic around the construction site in order to keep it open. He also said the matter would be brought to Kudlik's management.

"We will certainly bring it up with them," said Bedard.

To that end, fire chief and director of emergency and protective services, Neville Wheaton, said letters were being drafted and hand delivered to the construction company.

"(The letters will say) that basically it's not for your own use, other people are using the road," said Wheaton.

Further, speed limit signs will be posted along the stretch of road and the company will be forced by bylaw officers to follow the rules.

Alain Faucher of Kudlik Construction, who had not received the letters as of last week, said while the trucks were finished their work this year, he had advised his drivers to slow down next season.

Mowbray said she was pleased with the steps that had been taken, but she was still rather concerned for her safety.

"It will certainly start to make it a safer place, but my feeling is that there will be even bigger trucks next year with the construction. (The town) really has to think about making a separate entrance or closing the road."