Commuters driving in and out of Sylvan Lake will have to manoeuvre through a variety of changes as the town works through upgrading Memorial Trail to a major arterial route this summer.
Mayor Susan Samson said on Tuesday that results of a traffic impact study presented to council on Monday show few surprises in the upgrading project, being funded by Alberta Transportation and due for completion by the end of the 2012 road-building season.
Impacts on visitors will be minimal, since the construction affects mainly internal traffic and especially those who are driving in and out of the town for work and business, said Samson.
In a town the size of Sylvan Lake, the impact on the time it takes to get from one point to another will never be more than a matter of minutes, she said.
Among its recommendations, the study calls for a turning lane for northbound vehicles turning onto Memorial Trail from Hwy 20 as well as a longer ramp for vehicles turning onto Hwy 11 from Hwy 781, said Samson.
The traffic study also showed that there will be a need for signal lights at key intersections, including Memorial Trail and Hwy 20 as well as Hwys 11 and 781 in the next five years, or in the event of accelerated growth, she said.
However, there isn’t enough money in the construction budget to install those lights this year, said Samson.