On Friday, October 5th at 4:30 a.m. a speeding car heading east on Crescent Road lost control in the curve at 142A St. where the historic Elgin Community Hall sits. The vehicle left the roadway where it first smashed into a stop sign, knocking it down and tearing its heavy concrete base out of the ground. Next it hit a hydro pole with such force that it cut it completely in two while not stopping. Immediately after that it ploughed into a concrete brick patio area tearing a large hole in the ground and sending an iron park bench flying. The car was seriously damaged with pieces of it littering the area and the shattered hydro pole reportedly fell across Crescent Road blocking traffic. Amazingly, a Surrey RCMP media release later that day revealed the driver was not injured in this crash. The power was disrupted and it took crews until 3:30 in the afternoon to finally turn it back on after the broken pole was replaced.
This accident, if you want to call it that, happened at a relatively gentle curve in the road well past the sign warning of a 30 km/h speed zone ahead, which begins at the Elgin Hall parking lot. The sweeping S curve is designated a low speed zone because of the old ESSO gas station situated on the corner of Elgin Road and Crescent Road. Just beyond that at the apex of a sharp curve in the road is a pedestrian crossing for the Semiahmoo Trail that has flashing yellow lights activated by those crossing the street. For traffic headed west from the King George Blvd., the 30 km/h zone starts just before 144 St at Elgin Creek. The Surrey Engineering Department is aware of the speeding in this dangerous area but will not put speed bumps or speed humps on an arterial road. The RCMP have conducted numerous daytime speed traps in the slow zone with plenty of tickets given out and some vehicles towed away for excessive speed at 40 km/h over the limit.
The 30 km/h signs in this area do little or nothing to slow people down who treat it like a Formula 1 racing track. The small traffic island in the middle of Crescent Road at 144 St. has had its yellow and black striped hazard signs mowed down countless times. I once had a 10 tonne moving truck come around this corner so fast that I thought it was going to roll over in front of me before the driver got it back down on all four wheels. There is a split rail fence that Surrey installed along the sidewalk in this area, presumably to keep pedestrians safe, that has already been run into by out of control cars three or four times. Amazingly nobody has been killed at the pedestrian crossing but this is likely because people look and wait for speeding cars to roar past them. The Elgin ESSO is only protected by a small curb and Surrey did not want to put large concrete no-post barriers in at this area as they were afraid a vehicle might launch over them at high speed before crashing into the gas pumps. Throw in the lack of a stop sign at the Elgin Road and Crescent Road interchange (it's yield only, if you can believe that) and you have a recipe for disaster.
The rest of Crescent Road all the way to Crescent Beach is really not much safer than the Elgin stretch. It is 4.5 kms of twisting windy roadway that has changed little since it was first put in following along the Nicomekl river well over 100 years ago. As the cars and speed have increased, the dotted line passing zones were replaced with a double solid line and bike lanes painted on the shoulders. There have been curve ahead 40 km/h speed warning signs installed, large chevron curve signs posted at the sharpest curve uphill from Chantrell Creek and hazard markers placed on power poles, courtesy of Surrey after emails from me to their Traffic Safety manager. Still, even with these changes there continues to be a constant parade of crashes on Crescent Road, most happening at nighttime involving high speed. I almost had a head-on crash with a car that came fully into my lane near 128 St., my wife was passed by a speeding Chevelle that crashed into some trees at the next corner and I have been at countless crash scenes including the one that killed Tony Blackburn on Valentines Day 15 years ago.
The City of Surrey needs to look at addressing the problem of speeding and crashes on Crescent Road. While the Engineering Dept. have informed me they do not want speed humps on arterial roads, they don't mind putting them at elementary schools, even though these are only 30 kmh from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on school days. The Sunrise Ridge Elementary School on 60 Ave. in Cloverdale has speed humps and this is a four lane arterial road so why not on Crescent Road in the 30 km/h zone? The Elgin S Curve on Crescent Road needs speed humps at either end and also in the middle of the straightaway to slow down racing vehicles. The T intersection of Elgin Road and Crescent Road at the ESSO station needs a damn stop sign, not just a yield sign for people turning right. For much of Crescent Road traffic calming solutions should be utilized including median islands with landscaping to separate and slow traffic, plus chicanes that could be used in the middle of the current straightaways. Traffic circles should also be installed at 140 St., 136 St., 132 St. and at the four-way stop at 128 St. at the corner of Crescent Park where a roundabout is currently in the planning stages.
Until these changes can all be instituted, high-speed late night crashes will continue to plague this century old roadway. It would be nice to see the Surrey police or RCMP do traffic control in this corridor, with the entrance to Elgin Heritage Park being a logical spot to check for street racers. Unfortunately a recent posting on a South Surrey Facebook page revealed that a request for RCMP speed traps at night on Crescent Road resulted in the person being told that the police traffic division only works from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. I'd love to find out just how bad the issue of street racing on Crescent Road at night really is or the high speeds that are involved in Ocean Park on 128 St. and 16 Ave. that many neighbours have voiced concerns about. With all of the high-powered luxury sedans, exotic sports cars and super fast Teslas in south Surrey, it should not come as a surprise that Crescent Road has become a nocturnal racetrack with only a bunch of hydro poles to slow people down.
Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn
I wish to acknowledge we live work and play on the traditional lands of the Semiahmoo people.
Local News
October 17, 2024
Help choose a name for Sgt. Bison
Surrey RCMP has a new mascot and needs help to give Sergeant Bison a first name!
This is an exciting and unique opportunity for elementary and high school students to suggest a name for the Surrey RCMP’s newest mascot, Sgt. Bison.
The BC Sports Hall of Fame is thrilled to share the news that legendary broadcaster and White Rock resident Jim Hughson has been selected for induction in 2025 in the Media category.
Christine Sinclair, Ray Ferraro and the 2000 BC Lions are among the other inductees.
Residing in White Rock, he is one of hockey’s most recognizable play-by-play voices. Over 40+ years in broadcast booths across North America providing the play-by-play soundtrack for some of the biggest moments in recent hockey history. Worked sixteen years as a play-by-play broadcaster on Hockey Night in Canada (2005-21), including the final 13 years as HNIC’s lead announcer calling every Stanley Cup Final in that time. Also called games at the 2006 and 2014 Winter Olympics, the 1991 World Junior Championships, and several NHL All-Star Games and Winter Classics. Earlier in his career served as TSN’s lead hockey and baseball play-by-play broadcaster, 1987-94, covering the NHL as well as Toronto Blue Jays and Montreal Expos games. An early big break came as Jim Robson’s occasional replacement for Vancouver Canucks radio broadcasts on CKNW, 1979-82. Later succeeded Robson as CKNW’s Canucks play-by-play announcer, 1994-99. Served as CTV/Rogers Sportsnet’s Canucks play-by-play voice from 1998-2008. Recipient of the NHL Broadcasters Association’s Foster Hewitt Memorial Award in 2019.
October 16, 2024
Johnston Road Phase 2 Update
Construction is moving forward with work continuing on sidewalk features. The new water main has successfully passed all tests and work on water main tie ins and service connections will start next week which will require road closures.
The closures will be broken into phases to keep the intersection from being completely shut down:
Here is a picture of the A3 ( C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS ) comet that is visible now.
The picture was taken at Kwomais Point Park on October 12 at about 7:45 pm with an IPhone and a 3 second exposure.
The comet should be visible for most of October. I could not see it with the naked eye but it was quite visible with a pair of binoculars. The picture may be helpful to show where in the sky to find it. The lights of Tsawwassen are just below and to the left of the comet.
Best Regards,
Art Scheffler
October 15, 2024
More trouble for Local BC Conservative candidate
South Surrey White rock Conservative candidate BRENT CHAPMAN
A Surrey BC Conservative candidate is facing renewed pressure to drop out of the race after more offensive social media comments surfaced.
But in a statement posted to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), South Surrey candidate Brent Chapman says he has no plans to withdraw.
BNSF railway will be conducting vegetation control beginning next Monday October 14. The spraying of glysophate will be administered along the entire length of the rail line from the Peace Arch to the rail bridge in Crescent Beach.
BNSF will do everything in their power to ensure the toxic spray will not spread any further than the rocky rail bed along our waterfront. Those with breathing concerns should consider staying way from the waterfront during the spray period.
October 12, 2024
Sailor's Delight
Last night @ dinner time the call went through the house "Come see the sunset." Red sky @ night sailors delight, and right they were. The skies are clear for a gorgeous sunny day.
Thank you to BILL HAWKE for another memory of our" city by the sea."
1. Go to the woods. Bring a cone home.
2. Put the cone in a pot with some soil - so that most of it stands out.
3. Every day water it with a small amount of water, as excess water makes the cones rot.
4. After some time, a tiny tree will appear.
5. Congratulations - you just started oxygen production and you have a piece of forest in your own home.
Thank You for doing something for nature!
October 11, 2024
Local Conservative Candidate Under Fire
WARNING: The language in this post is offensive. Discretion is advised.
A BC Conservative candidate is facing criticism after an offensive online comment he made about Palestinians resurfaced.
Brent Chapman, the Conservative candidate for Surrey-South is facing criticism after an offensive online comment he made about Palestinians resurfaced., made a Facebook comment in 2015 describing Palestinians as “little inbred walking talking breathing time bombs.”
Late Wednesday night, Chapman issued an apology for his comments.
“The language I used and the sentiments I expressed at that time towards Palestinians and members of the Islamic faith were completely unacceptable,” he said in a statement.
“They do not reflect who I am today or the respect and admiration I hold for the Palestinian and Muslim communities.”
He added that he wants to “offer (his) sincerest apologies to everyone hurt by my past words.”
Yesterday John Rustad said that he “accepted” Brent Chapman’s apology for a series of hateful posts targeting Muslims. Rustad did not say he had consulted with Muslim community leaders.
Last night, he ruled out asking Chapman to resign before even speaking to him.
On August 28, 2024, Rustad was asked by CFAX about the controversial views of his candidates. He said “racism” and “hate” were his lines in the sand:
Brent Chapman with Federal MP Kerry Lynne Findlay
Amazing August evening with my husband, Brent Chapman, featuring 450 guests and the @cityofwhiterock best vistas at the 8th annual Picnic on the Pier to benefit Peace Arch Hospital.
Northern Lights - Light Up Our Sky
A number of photographers were set for the light show last night over Crescent Beach's baby pier.
LISA NOLAN caught the action in the five Corners District of uptown White Rock.
With clear skies forecasted for the weekend we all may get lucky to see them again.
Picture Perfect
We are looking for 12 scenic photos for our 2025 community calendar!
If you are interested in participating, please e-mail your original, high resolution photos from South Surrey or White Rock in landscape format to kerry-lynne.findlay@parl.gc.ca by November 1st!
My grandmother used to tell me not to laugh at other's condition coz we might be in their position one day.
So I started to laugh at Jeff Bezos everyday.
Thought For The Day
Community Events
Tomorrow Night / Halloween with the SURREY EAGLES
Just Two Days Left To Vote
You don’t need to be a White Rock resident in order to participate- voting is open and FREE to everyone who loves White Rock businesses and our community!
Nominations will be open until OCTOBER 18th 2024- then you’ll have a chance to vote for the finalist!
The Annual White Rock BIA awards are back and voting is OPEN NOW!
Nominate your favourite businesses from across our 4 districts: Uptown, East Beach, West Beach and Five Corners.
The five businesses in each category that receive the most nominations will go on to a final round of voting to choose the winners!
You don’t need to be a White Rock resident in order to participate- voting is open and FREE to everyone who loves White Rock businesses and our community!
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