A future six-lane expressway on Red Deer’s east side will still need to have signal intersections, according to an Engineering Services Department report.
City council was told on Monday that 20th Avenue, part of the ring road that will be fully developed in about 30 years, will still need traffic lights. The city’s 30-year plan for a ring road will see Northland Drive being built as a north-south route extending from Hwy 11A, across the river and then linking up with 30th Avenue. The 20th Avenue road will connect with Delburne Road.
Councillor Tara Veer asked for a report earlier this year to see if there was any way that the number of traffic lights could be reduced for the 20th Avenue expressway.
The report shows that 20th Avenue will have about seven traffic lights when it’s a four-lane road. When it eventually becomes a six-lane road, it will have three in that same section since four flyovers would be built as well.
Veer said in council chambers she wasn’t sure what the solution was, but it still remains a concern for her.
The report was filed for information on Monday.
“Ultimately, we’re planning for a city of 300,000 so we’re a growing city,” said Veer later.
She recently drove along Anthony Henday Drive in Edmonton and Stony Plain Road in Calgary, both ring roads.
“In my view, that’s a true ring road where you can get from one end of the community without having stop-start traffic and there are numerous exits,” Veer said.
— copyright Red Deer Advocate