This month’s OPSRRA newsletter survey has to do with the Aug. 12 Subaru Sooke Triathlon.
In 2011 the cycling route was changed from numerous loops around Otter Point and Sooke to a linear route starting at Camp Barnard in Otter Point, along Otter Point Road to Hwy. 14 at Gordon’s Beach and then west on the highway to a point midway between Jordan River and Port Renfrew. This route change required limiting access to Highway 14 from Gordon’s Beach to Port Renfrew. Following complaints about last year’s closures from residents west of Sooke, the race organizers limited this year’s closures to 7 to 10:30 a.m. for westbound traffic from Gordon’s Beach to Port Renfrew and from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for eastbound traffic from Port Renfrew to Gordon’s Beach. Provision was also made for more local travel around the area. However, concerns were still being expressed about:
• The impact of these closures on local businesses west of Sooke.
• The ability of volunteer fire fighters and first responders to get to the Shirley Fire Hall in the event of an emergency.
• Emergency services being able to navigate the bicycle racers and single-lane approaching traffic to respond to both race and non-race emergencies.
• The general inconvenience resulting from closing the only road between Sooke and Port Renfrew.
Go to the following website to follow a link to answer this month’s survey questions.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?
Note: All responses are collected anonymously and will be reported in the October newsletter.