Council for the Rural Municipality of De Salaberry is looking to reduce the speed on Highway 59 in St. Malo. 

Reeve Marc Marion says the current speed on that stretch of highway is 80km/h and council is concerned as there have been a number of serious accidents in that area over the years and as foot traffic continues to increase going to and from the St. Malo Provincial Park. Marion explains the plan is for the 80km/h zone to be extended. 

"The intention of the 80 is to extend it, I’m pretty sure it’s about a half kilometer on each side of what’s existing right now. That means that the 80 km on the north side would be across the Rat River, there’s a bridge just north of St. Malo. On the south side, it would be beyond that curve which has produced a number of accidents at Gosselin Road and Highway 59 so we’d just like the speed to be reduced on what we’ve seen historically as potential accident areas."

Marion notes they also proposed a 60km/h zone be added in the area where Highway 59 is split into four lanes. He says Highway 59 does separate St. Malo into two parts with a few businesses and a large residential area on the east side of the highway, so he adds people aren't only crossing in summer to get to the park. 

"We do have foot traffic crossing the 59 on a yearly basis so council is quite worried at the fact that traffic is increasing and there is no pedestrian crossing there and having traffic move at 80km per hour, does not give enough time to be able to do that safely so we’re just looking out for our tourists and the people who are living in the town of St. Malo."