Work is set to begin today on making improvements to a high-collision intersection near Sylvan Lake.
Alberta Transportation spokesman Trent Bancarz said that crews from Alberta Highway Services, the maintenance contractor in the area, is scheduled to get going on the project today, depending on the weather, at the intersection of Hwy 11 and Hwy 781/50th Street.
Some preliminary scoping out of the road began on Thursday.
Bancarz said the work will take between five and seven days, and will cost about $75,000.
Last month, Alberta Transportation and the Town of Sylvan Lake mutually decided on a “right-in, right-out” configuration at Hwy 11 and Hwy 781/50th Street.
This means eastbound traffic on Hwy 11 will no longer be able to turn left at the intersection so they can head north onto 50th Street into town. As well, drivers south on 50th Street would not be able to turn left anymore at the intersection.
Some Sylvan residents called for traffic lights.
In a news release, the town reported installing lights at the intersection was “heavily considered” by both parties.
However, lights would “not be the fastest or most ideal solution” based on traffic volumes, the availability of nearby controlled intersections and the future growth plans.
On Sept. 24 at about 9 p.m., Arnold Wade Scott, 35, and Dale Ernest Meckler, 47, both of Sylvan Lake, died at the scene after the eastbound car they were in turned left (north) onto Hwy 781 and then into the path of a five-ton truck.
Benalto area resident Harvey Dussault, 55, died on Aug. 2 at the same intersection when his westbound motorbike struck an eastbound car turning left (north) on Hwy 781.
A traffic engineer’s report was ordered immediately after Dussault’s death to see if short-term changes should be made.
ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com
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