Case Against Left Turn Lane Presented

Monday, September 08, 2008 07:37 PM

Prince George, B.C.- The full case against a left hand turn lane off Highway 97 south on to Spruce Street or Victoria has been laid out for City Council.

Rick Blixrud, District Manager, Transportation, Fort George District was joined by Gordon Wagner, Regional Manager, Engineering Services, Northern Region and Shanna Mason, Regional Director, Northern Region in making the presentation.

This is the fifth time this kind of request has come before the Ministry of Transportation as the matter has been on the radar since 1971.

Councilor Don Zurowski says he received about 2,000 e-mails calling for the Ministry to examine the possibilities. He says if there is no safe way to do this, then he is not interested. As far as the Ministry reps are concerned, this report is the final word on the matter.

According to the $30 thousand dollar report (which the Ministry of Transportation paid for) if a left turn lane were to be installed:

There would be a significant increase in collisions (by at least 100%)
During peak hours, risk of unsafe moves due to lack of gaps in traffic (head on and T-Bone type crashes)
Risk of waiting vehicle line up extending into southbound lane on hwy (rear end crashes)
Cost of crashes to grow to $25 million over 15 years

The report says that to compare the requested left turn lane with that of the Treasure Cove Casino is not a fair comparison as the Casino is not providing traffic access to the rest of the neighbourhood, it is a destination turn lane and the intersection at 16 and 97 provides gaps in traffic to allow for a safe turn.

The Ministry of Transportation says to provide a left turn lane would be unsafe and that is why the idea has been rejected, but there are two things the Ministry will do:

Additional directional signs for Queensway U-turn Route
Extension of median guardrail to protect northbound travelers from illegal U-Turns

Councilor Sherry Sethen wanted to know, what can be done to alleviate the problems outlined by the businesses who brought forth the request. Blixrud says the Ministry is open to looking at other ideas to see how they might be addressed. "There may be options and we are willing to look at those." He says there was a configuration before that involved the Uplands overpass, but the overpass provides some problems as the grade is very steep . There was also an examination of a cloverleaf, but the Ministry says the area is very tight to allow for that kind of development.

Councilor Brian Skakun says he disagrees with the report and pressed for more detail on a possible cloverleaf that would link southbound traffic on to Upland. The Ministry reps say the radius of the turn would be too tight. Even if the businesses put forth the money to try and find a solution, Regional Manager of Engineering Services Gordon Wagner, says there is no solution that would not severely disrupt residents and businesses.

The request for a left turn lane came from seven businesses in the Spruce Street and Victoria block.

The complete report can be accessed at www.th.gov.bc.ca/publications/reports_and_studies/index.htm

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Posted on Monday, September 08, 2008 07:37 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: RUEZ on September 8 2008 8:09 PM

So basically the government guesses there will be a lot of accidents so no you can't have it. Oh by the way the new Sandman is getting one but they supply government with a lot more money than Mr. G's does.

Posted by: Chester on September 8 2008 10:10 PM

Comon' now, you can't really expect to have traffic from both directions have access to businesses on the bypass, can you? What a silly notion. If you can't make it with half the traffic, no sense trying to make the investment in the first place. It's always been like this and trying to change it now is impossible. So, just choose some place else to spend your money, or figure out how to get over there on your own. Be very careful when you try to get on Ferry Ave. though, it can also be very busy and very dangerous. Chester

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on September 8 2008 10:17 PM

"..The report says that to compare the requested left turn lane with that of the Treasure Cove Casino is not a fair comparison.." Heehee!

I hope some of the councillors jumped on that one. That casino parking lot is always full, and with the addition of a bingo hall it should be jammed. The Casino has more traffic to it's other services that more than makes up for what the neighbourhood would use in traffic.

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on September 8 2008 10:20 PM

"..Extension of median guardrail to protect northbound travelers from illegal U-Turns.." Actually the Ministry was the ones that pointed out to the local business owners that a U-turn at that location is NOT illegal if done without holding up traffic.

I hope councillors jack these guys up on that one? Or did they miss that one?

Posted by: metalman on September 9 2008 7:54 AM

READ MY LIPS

OVERPASS.

REPEAT;

OVERPASS.

Do it right the first time, spend the money, get it done. With proper traffic access to the North side, there might even be additional commercial development along there that will, guess what; bring in more tax dollars. I like over passes. Hang the cost, all levels of government waste more money every year than an overpass would cost.
metalman.

Posted by: MrPG on September 9 2008 9:13 AM

Or even cheaper, leave it alone -- No expensive overpass, no left turn as per the report's finding. The few businesses along that stretch can deal with it.

Posted by: Rounder on September 9 2008 12:10 PM

Turning left into the casino is completely different than turning left into the Upland area. The traffic lights at 16/97 make it easier for the casino traffic.

An overpass?

Maybe Major should sell the northeast corner of his property to the Province and they can build an offramp to Upland.

Posted by: Harbinger on September 9 2008 3:23 PM

Might have been easier fer Mr. Gs and the Carmel to get themselves a couple of slot machines on their premises. That might have helped.

Posted by: MrPG on September 9 2008 6:01 PM

I highly doubt it.