BY PAUL MITCHELLNorth Country This Week

CANTON – The Miner Street Road project has hit a glitch that could either narrow the width of the roadway or the bike and pedestrian paths.

Town Highway Superintendent Steven Smith told town board members Wednesday night that New York State Department of Transportation design criteria for rural roads may have an effect on how the town approaches the reconstruction project.

“There is a concern on the width of the trail. We may not be able to go as wide as planned because of a setback,” Smith said.

Regardless, grinding of the Miner Street Road is expected to take place the week of May 20. Asphalt will be laid on a 26-feet-wide stretch of the road sometime this summer.

Smith said DOT regulations for rural roads go by speed zone and active traffic count. The road is currently posted as 30 and 40 miles per hour with an average traffic count of more than 900 vehicles per day with an average speed of 33.4 miles per hour. A 9-foot wide roadway can be used if the traffic count is under 400 vehicles per day. If over that number, a 10-foot wide road is required.

“I have to find out if it’s set in stone regarding the width,” Smith stated.

“My hope is that it’s not set in stone,” said Councilman John Taillon, citing a trail that is wide enough to provide a safe path for pedestrians and cyclists.

There was also discussion of excessive speed on the Miner Street Road with town officials looking to have a speed limit of 30 miles per hour all the way to the Jingleville Road intersection. That request will have to be forwarded to the St. Lawrence County Highway Department, who in turn will relay the speed reduction request to the state DOT.

Several Miner Street Road residents voiced their concerns about high rates of speed on the road; speeds often hitting 60 to 70 miles per hour.

“I live in the belly of this beast. There is one answer - enforcement. If the police were there on a regular basis, it would cure this problem,” said Thomas Woodside, 258 Miner Street Road.

Sally Vrooman, 187 Miner Street Road, told elected officials that she has gotten more afraid of walking due to an increase in the number of speeders.

“I’m nimble but not impervious to speed,” Vrooman remarked. “If you make the road wider it goes against making the road safer.”

Miner Street Road resident Barb Rogers agreed.

“I second Sally’s concerns for the speed of traffic,” said Rogers, who asked if seasonal speed bumps could be placed to slow down traffic.

The matter is expected to be reintroduced at the town board’s June 12 monthly meeting.