The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure met with residents of the Lower Similkameen at Victory Hall on June 1 to discuss plans to make improvements to the traffic problems at Keremeos’ major downtown intersection at Seventh Avenue and Seventh Street.
The open house was well attended by an interested public who have been looking for years for solutions to problems with large vehicles manoeuvering through the intersection.
Large transports and B trains can experience problems staying in their lanes or on the roadway itself, when making westbound turns at the corner. Residents and council members have lobbied the province for years to bring attention to the issue, and the efforts were rewarded last fall when Shirley Bond, Highways minister at the time, saw a photo of a large truck crossing over the sidewalk during a westbound turn.
The ministry had two options to present to the public on Wednesday, graphically depicting the present intersection layout along with two other possible options.
The ministry noted that existing situation allowed free right turns to Highway 3 westbound, but was prone to vehicle and pedestrian conflicts. Large vehicles making right turns often need to take up two lanes, as well as encroaching on opposing lanes on the other side of the corner.
The improvement labelled as “Option two” would also allow for a free right hand turn in the westbound lane with somewhat less potential to encroach on adjacent lanes. This option would require a highway centreline shift that would result in a loss of parallel parking spaces near the intersection on Seventh Avenue. The ministry noted that there would still be potential for vehicle - pedestrian conflicts with the modifications, and property acquisition would be required for the town centre building on the northwest corner. In addition, the sidewalk width in this area would be substantially reduced
The option being recommended by ministry staff would simplify the intersection by removing the centre lane. There would be a stop condition for westbound traffic, allowing for free flow only in the eastbound direction. With this setup, large vehicles would be able to stay within their respective lanes, and a two metre sidewalk width would be maintained at the corner.
Helen Evans, Ministry project manager for the intersection project said that the open house was put together to show the public what options were being contemplated, and to give the public a chance for comment.
“ What we were trying to address here was the issue of larger vehicles encroaching on adjacent lanes, as well as to find a solution to the conflicts with pedestrians,” Evans said.
“Option two didn’t eliminate those issues, and it also reduced the sidewalk to 1.8 metres.” Evans admitted that the westbound stop would be a new situation, but studies by the ministry have predicted that there would be no issues with traffic backing up at the intersection because of congestion for many years to come.
“The idea is to simplify the intersection,” Evans stated.
The design work for the intersection changes - based on the recommended option - is 80 per cent ready. The ministry would like to put a tender out for the work early this summer, and expect work to begin in late September to early October. The project, budgeted at $750,000, is expected to be completed by the end of this year.