Concerns that heavy hauling trucks will not be able to navigate the roundabout destined for Hwy 2A and Hwy 597 just south of Blackfalds were put to rest at a public information session Tuesday night.
The partial multi-lane project will accommodate a double trailer, said Alan Griffith, senior engineer at Genivar, the engineering consultant hired by Alberta Transportation.
“We found the largest commercial vehicle that operates out of Burbank Industrial Park, set up cones one afternoon and drove it around,” he said of the trial the company did to ensure large vehicles will fit.
Blackfalds Mayor Melodie Stol attended the meeting and voiced her appreciation that the province took nearby trucking businesses into consideration when designing a roundabout that will replace the signalized intersection.
The roundabout planned for Blackfalds will have two lanes for north and southbound traffic and one lane for the east and westbound direction. This is larger than the single-lane circular intersection in Sylvan Lake at Hwy 20 and Hwy 11A.
Those who attended the meeting also learned of the three benefits roundabouts offer, the first being the alleviation of traffic congestion.
Current average delays at the intersection range from seven to 43 seconds depending on the time of day, said roundabout specialist Philip Weber of Ourston Roundabout Engineering.
Delays should be reduced to three to six seconds as vehicles will not be forced to stop at the roundabout, he added.
This was welcomed news to Blackfalds resident Sharon Keim, who said northbound traffic travelling to town at peak hours can back up to as far south as the CN rail bridge.
“So if it alleviates that, like they say it’s going to, that will be great,” she said.
Alberta Transportation is expected to start working on the new roundabout within the next three years and will strive to complete the project before construction starts to twin Hwy 2A between Blackfalds and Red Deer.
Griffith said the project will cost approximately $5 million.
A public information session is scheduled for tonight from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Ramada Inn in Olds to discuss the roundabouts proposed at Hwy 2 and Hwy 27.
ptrotter@www.reddeeradvocate.com