Although the recent winter weather has slowed down progress on the Main Avenue roundabout pilot project, officials remain optimistic the work could be completed this month. The traffic calming measures themselves have already been deployed.
Although the recent winter weather has slowed down progress on the Main Avenue roundabout pilot project, officials remain optimistic the work could be completed this month.
The traffic calming measures themselves have already been deployed. However, contractors have not yet been able to finish painting the new lane configurations as well as the pedestrian crossings, nor installing flexible delineator posts that will help to guide traffic along, said Jim Hall, Sundre's operations manager.
"If we get a mild spell of weather we should be able to get a lot of that done," he said last week.
Residents should also be aware that the new pedestrian crossings are set several feet back from their former locations to make people who are walking more visible to motorists while at the same time directing foot traffic away from crossing through the roundabouts, he said.
The intersection at First Street and Main Avenue is the only one not to have a roundabout. Once the new lanes are painted and the delineators installed, eastbound traffic will no longer be permitted to turn left towards the fire hall. Westbound traffic on Main Avenue will still be able to turn right at that intersection, he said.
Additionally, drivers coming down First Street will only be allowed to turn right onto Main Avenue. For the time being, drivers can continue on as they have in the past, but they should be cautious with oncoming traffic when making a left-hand turn, he said.
Engineers have said the flexible posts have been ordered and will be installed once they arrive, depending on conditions, he said, adding that could potentially be challenging because of the snow.
"I'm hoping the rough construction to get the project done will be completed before the end of the 2018."
Contractors and engineers are all striving to finish the work this month if the weather accommodates construction efforts. Meanwhile, the situation on Main Avenue seems to be rolling along well, he said.
Despite hearing from elected officials that some residents have complained, there have to date been no serious misfortunes or major issues on Main Avenue, he said, adding many semis and tanker trucks have not struggled to navigate around the traffic calming measures. Worse comes to worst, the roundabouts are designed for heavier loads to be able to drive over them.
Despite slowing down the project's completion, the snow has otherwise not proven to be particularly problematic. Alberta Transportation's contractor clears the road between the roundabouts, making sure to lift the shovel's blade to avoid impacting the traffic circles, while a local contractor clears the sidewalks with a municipal crew sweeping off the roundabouts, he said.
"We're working cohesively well together," he said, adding snow removal on Main Avenue will be an ongoing collaborative effort.
The municipality will track the number of hours town staff put into clearing the roundabouts. That data will be used to negotiate an agreement with the province should the pilot project become permanent, he said.
In the meantime, traffic has on average been visibly slowing down along Main Avenue, "which is what we wanted," he said. Just about the only problem at this point, he said, is making sure everyone understands the new right-of-ways at the intersections and that east and westbound traffic no longer automatically have precedence.
If people who are unsure how to proceed take the time to get accustomed to the new design, he expressed confidence the community will have better drivers and a safer downtown.
"It'll just take some time. People will get it figured out," he said, encouraging anyone with questions to contact either the municipality or local law enforcement.
