Access road to lower response times, increase safety for North River firefighters

The North River Fire Department's new access road is nearing completion and will allow Cornwall, P.E.I.'s fire unitto shorten response times andmake getting on the road safer.

The access road runs through where the North River rink used to be. The rink was demolished this winter so drivers couldsafely approach the roundaboutandresponse timesfor emergency vehicles could be reduced.

• North River rink being torn down to make roundabout safer
• Cornwall's North River Rink to be demolished

"We'll no longer have to cross four lanes of traffic to get on to the Trans-Canada Highway and respond to any calls," said fire Chief Anson Grant.

"We'll be able to flow right out into the roundabout, much safer and easier than trying to get traffic stopped."

Grant was unsure ofexactly how muchtime will be saved with the new access road.

However, he did sayfirefighters won't have to stop traffic to get the trucks out. Even if the new access road saves just 30 seconds, Grant said, that "can be a lifetime for anybody" in an emergency situation.

"Anytime we can cut off a response, it's certainly a big help and this will certainly do this for us," he said.

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