As Airdrieís population continues to grow, traffic congestion on the Cityís roadways increases.
The municipalityís engineering department has a number of new projects in the works to help alleviate the congestion on the cityís streets.
Members of the Cityís Engineering Services team have been hard at work to ensure that as the population increases, roads and intersections are both safe and convenient for drivers and pedestrians.
There are a number of upcoming projects across the city with respect to traffic control, the majority of which will be taking place in the southwest and southeast, as they are the fastest growing areas, according to Engineering Services Team Leader Bob Neale.
ìAt present, weíre making more improvements in the southern quadrants of the city,î said Neale. ìIn 2013, the City implemented some road construction projects, while 2014 will be focused on operational projects.î
ìWith the growth in Chinook Winds, we will be installing a traffic light at Chinook Winds Drive and Yankee Valley Boulevard in 2014; at the intersection of First Avenue and Eighth Street, all four directions will have left-turn signals as well.î
Left turn signals are important to keeping traffic flow steady and avoiding backups at intersections, according to Municipal Engineering Technologist Ken Velcic.
ìThe City contracts engineering consultants to do traffic studies at certain intersections to find where our needs are and what intersections experience what volume of traffic,î said Velcic. ìThese advance turn signals can be programmed to be reactive to the time of the day so that the timing is longer during more dense traffic periods.î
The most recent intersection to get a new advance left-turn signal is located at the corner of Veterans Boulevard and Edmonton Trail, where, as of Nov. 1, drivers turning south on to Edmonton Trail are given an advance left to not only improve traffic flow but increase safety.
ìThatís an intersection that sees significant volume and we have seen an increased number of collisions in that area where you have people trying to beat out a solid green light,î said Neale.
ìWith an advance left turn, weíre hoping to reduce those incidents.î
Further west on Veteranís Boulevard at the intersection with Eighth Street, Velcic expects an advance left-turn signal will be operational before the end of the month.
Northbound traffic on Kingsview Boulevard will be eased as Velcic says the left-turn signal already in place is getting a new timing plan in the near future.
ìThere is a lot of traffic that turns from north to west at that intersection and during busy times there can be quite a back up,î said Velcic.
ìWith the new timing plan, the left turn signal will stay on longer and allow more cars through so you donít see cars backed up (down Kingsview Boulevard).î
Neale and Velcic say that they are being proactive and getting out in front of traffic concerns in the city and have been establishing plans for the future of Airdrieís roads.
ìItís a very dynamic situation with how fast the city is growing and itís always growing in different areas,î said Neale.
ìWe have a plan in place and we know what to do when the population hits 60,000 and 80,000 people.î
One plan that Neale says is in place is the widening of Eighth Street to a four-lane road to support higher traffic volume.
ìOur transportation master plan has certain population thresholds,î said Neale.
ìFrom that we will program and prioritize accordingly.î
Major road work projects in the proposed 2014 budget include 40th Avenue ñ Eighth Street to Reynolds Gate at a cost of $6 million and 40th Avenue - Eighth Street to Windsong Drive - at a cost of $3.9 million. These new roads will connect the Windsong neighbourhood to the Hillcrest and Morningside neighbourhoods.
