Apparently, enough drivers had been dodging the Main Avenue roundabouts by going through the empty lot across the road from the grocery store that the volume of traffic prompted residents in the area to raise safety concerns.
So the manager of Sundre’s operations department recommended to council during the May 14 meeting putting in place concrete barricades to remedy the matter.
“What we’re finding now is an increase — a dramatic increase — of traffic. Due to the roundabouts, people are bypassing,” said Jim Hall.
Aside from safety concerns raised by residents who live near First Avenue NW, there were also issues about the dust kicking up as a result, as well as uncertain legal liabilities in the event of a collision on the privately owned portion of land that is not even technically a registered road.
Not to mention the potholes that are borderline reminiscent of small lunar craters.
“I’ve had concerns from residents that live in the very vicinity of that roadway. The dust and the amount of traffic and speeds are dramatic. I don’t know how they can drive fast because of the potholes, but we do have to do something,” said Hall.
I also have no idea how anyone could drive anything — short of a tank — through that rough terrain with any substantial amount of momentum. This is not the Indy 500 or a closed course catering to speeders in a rush to get everywhere — this is a small town with the unpredictability of children playing and pedestrians walking around.
Although council was all too well aware that setting up the barricades would result in a backlash from some drivers who harbour an unhealthy grudge against the roundabouts, elected officials nevertheless in the end sided with safety and risk reduction.
“We need to do our due diligence in protecting the residents on First Avenue and the children that are playing out there too,” said Coun. Rob Wolfe speaking to his reasons for making a motion to approve Hall’s recommendation, which was later carried.
I could not agree more.
Having taken a quick drive through the vacant commercial lot "roundabout bypass," I was admittedly stunned that anyone would actually find that approach more suitable.
Slowly lumbering along at barely 10 kilometres per hour, fingers mentally crossed that my vehicle suffered no serious damage, there was no question in my mind. Given the option between that so-called “shortcut” and Main Avenue, I will gladly navigate through the roundabouts any day of the week.
The traffic calming measures are leaps and bounds better than justifying the risk of driving through those massive potholes, which make the ones on Sundre’s streets pale in comparison.
