Chelsea residents want to lower speed limit along stretch of Route 105
Residents of Chelsea, Que., are circulating a petition to reduce the speed limit on a section of Route 105 to 50 km/h.
The two-lane highway follows the west bank of the Gatineau River north from Gatineau, running parallel to Autoroute 5 until the two merge near Wakefield. Route 105 continues north for another 127 kilometres, past Maniwaki.
The 3.5-kilometre stretch that's concerning Chelsea residents sits between the Alonzo-Wright Bridge and Old Chelsea Road, where the speed limit is currently 70 km/h.
Parents in the area told Radio-Canada they worry for their children who have to catch the bus near Route 105, or ride along the busy roadway on their bikes.
Matt McKechnie said he tells his own 17-year-old daughter not to ride her bike along the road at night.
"At 70 km/h, it really is like 90 km/h," McKenchie said in French.
More than 600 people have signed the petition to lower the speed limit. It was submitted to the municipal council during its meeting last week.
The petition was launched by Nathalie Perron, who has lived along Route 105 for 28 years and said in French that drivers are "increasingly impatient."
A roadside display on Route 105 in Chelsea warns motorists when they're going too fast. (Radio-Canada screenshot)
Cindy Boucher, another Chelsea resident, suggested motorists who want to travel faster should use Autoroute 5 where the speed limit is 100 km/h.
Residents point out that speeds have already been reduced along other sections of Route 105, including a stretch between chemin Cherrin and chemin Pawley where the speed limit was reduced to 50 km/h in 2021.
Mayor Pierre Guénard and Limbour district Coun. Louis Sabourin said they support the change. The mayor said he will raise the issue with provincial officials at a meeting in September.
