The 40th Avenue Interchange and related projects have successfully alleviated traffic pressure on Airdrie’s roadways and the QEII, according to a recently completed study.
A report on the findings was brought to council during their May 7 meeting, where they also approved the reallocation of funds to alternate traffic signal locations.
Rick Wiljamaa, manager of capital projects and infrastructure, said the reduced traffic on several roads changed their plans for traffic signal installations this year.
Administration completed traffic signal warrants on unsignalized intersections that were impacted by the change in volumes.
Originally the City proposed signalization at the intersections of Yankee Valley Boulevard and Kings Heights Gate, as well as Kingsview Boulevard at the intersections of either Kingsview Way SE or Kingsview Road SE. Funding was approved in the 2024 budget.
Under the new 2024 analysis these intersections dropped below the level where traffic signalization is warranted and would instead increase traffic delay, said Wiljamaa.
“What we are looking at doing is actually moving the budget dollars,” he said. “Where we want to look at installing those are actually on main street, and it also ties in well with the opening of the library next year.”
The next highest ranked intersections proposed for signalization include Main Street at the Towerlane South entrance and Main Street at Elk Hill/Ridgegate Way.
Council approved these changes but directed administration to take another look at traffic numbers at Kingsview Boulevard and Kingsview Way SE or Kingsview Road SE.
Coun. Al Jones voiced concern over scrapping the signal lights on Kingsview Boulevard because he has witnessed people driving west on Kingsview Road and cutting through the Dollarama and Value Village parking lot to avoid turning north from Kingsview Road onto Kingsview Boulevard.
“That's the alternative they're using rather than sit there waiting for an opportunity to turn north," Jones said. "I would suggest that is not safe and from my viewpoint that deserves a second look in the interest of public safety as a whole and in fairness to the businesses I've identified whose parking lot is being used as a roadway."
Wiljamaa said if there's an influencing factor the City will take another look at that, as well as the traffic count at the intersection of Yankee Valley Boulevard and Kingsview Boulevard.
Traffic counts on arterial roads in south Airdrie have shown some substantial changes.
"Kingsview Boulevard... we've seen substantial changes in traffic there, if we look at north of 40th avenue we've seen a substantial increase in traffic of between 130 and 145 per cent depending on direction of travel," Wiljamaa said. "If you look at south of Yankee Valley Boulevard we've seen a decrease of 23 and 28 per cent north and southbound respectively."
Traffic volume counts show traffic has reduced on Yankee Valley Boulevard, while increases in traffic volume were recorded on Main Street South of 40th avenue, 8th street north of Coopers Boulevard, and Kingsview Boulevard north of 40th avenue.
