The issue of reducing the speed limit on Highway 9 between First Line EHS and Heart Lake Road has the Mono council on a collision course with the provincial Ministry of Transportation.

The town had requested that the province exercise its jurisdiction over the approximate 1.5-kilometre stretch of road and lower the speed limit from its present 80 km/h to 60 km/h.

The reasoning was that there are several businesses, residences on the south side in the Town of Caledon and a Montessori School.

In a letter to the town, however, MTO area traffic manager Fabio Saccon denied the request.

He explained in the letter that the portion of Highway 9 in question has a design speed of 100 km/h and a posted speed limit of 80 km/h.

The design speed is the maximum speed that a vehicle can safely travel based on the design standards of that particular roadway, which has two through lanes plus a centre lane for turning vehicles.

Mr. Saccon went on to say that a radar speed study was conducted. "The results of the speed study," he wrote, "concluded that vehicle operational speeds range between 89 km/h and 98 km/h.

"These results fall within the expected speed range for this type of King's Highway, which is considered rural with little development."

He added that a reduction to 60 km/h would be "inappropriate" since it would result in too wide a range in speeds drivers would use and, thus, compromise safety.

At its public meeting Tuesday, Mono council was vocal in its displeasure with the correspondence, which Mayor Lorie Haddock scoffed was a "generic letter" from the province.

"They don't live in reality down there. We should send another letter and say this (ministry conclusion) is unacceptable."

Deputy Mayor Ken McGhee made a motion that such an appeal be made to the ministry requesting the speed limit be reduced as requested.

It was passed unanimously.