Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors has tweaked the design of a proposed Penhold roundabout in response to concerns from farmers.
Residents got a look at plans for the roundabout at Highways 2A and 42/592 at the north side of Penhold at an open house last week. A number of farmers were concerned that as designed the roundabout would not be big enough for large farm equipment.
A number of farmers in the area have land on the east and west sides of Highway 2A. They faced having to go as far as Innisfail to get their equipment to their fields.
An Alberta Transportation spokesman said on Monday that revisions have been made to the roundabout design as a result of the recent feedback.
“These design changes include relocating destination signage for westbound Hwy 592 and eastbound Hwy 42 from medians,” said Jesse Furber, press secretary for Transportation and Economic Corridors Minister Devin Dreeshen.
“This also includes revising the radius to allow for extra width to accommodate agricultural equipment, and relocating the town sign on Hwy 2A northbound.”
Farmers concerned about roundabout
Town of Penhold has been pushing to have the intersection upgraded for a number of years.
In 2020, town council voted to send a letter to then-Transportation Minister Ric McIver to move the roundabout project ahead as soon as possible. The intersection has seen a significant number of collisions, which the town puts down to the amount of traffic passing through.