Reducing highway access to improve safety

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This article was published 13/04/2018 (2962 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Oak Bluff residents and others living and travelling along the south Perimeter might soon have to adjust their routes.

Infrastructure and Transportation director Erica Vido, with transportation systems planning and development, told the RM of Macdonald council about plans to close median openings and restrict access at uncontrolled intersections to right hand turns only at 26 locations along the south Perimeter Highway from Portage Avenue to Fermor Avenue beginning this summer.

Vido and other departmental staff attended the Macdonald council meeting on April 9. She said that the south Perimeter is one of Manitoba’s most vital roadways and is used by approximately 30,000 vehicles each day.

An audit compiled by a consultant shows that there is an average of 36 collisions along that section of highway each year, and many more near misses. A video was played showing a close call caused by a vehicle trying to make a left turn off the Perimeter.

“We’ve looked at every intersection there,” Vido said. “We need to do this to improve safety.”

This was the first meeting between provincial staff and municipal officials following infrastructure minister Ron Schuler’s March 22 announcement that Manitoba Infrastructure will consult with stakeholders, including municipalities, residents and other users to review plans for improving safety on the Perimeter Highway at uncontrolled intersections from Portage Avenue on the west to Fermor Ave. on the east, as well as other safety concerns along this section of highway.

One safety concern will be addressed this summer, if funding is in place, with a left hand turn signal being installed at the Highway 3 and Perimeter intersection in Oak Bluff.

Vido said they also plan to meet with the RMs of Headingley and Springfield councillors, then hope to hold public open houses in May. Macdonald reeve Brad Erb asked that a meeting be held in Oak Bluff so local residents can see and comment on the highway plans.

Vido said the median closures and access restrictions are the first step in a long-term plan that will see changes to the south Perimeter to make it a controlled freeway like those in the States.
Coun. Doug Dobrowolski asked how vehicles leaving Oakland Road in Oak Bluff — an area that contains industrial and commercial businesses — would be able to head north on the Perimeter if they can only turn right from Oakland Road. Traffic engineering director Glenn Cuthbertson said that the options seem to be driving to the PTH 3 and Perimeter junction in Oak Bluff and using the Petro-Canada station lot to turn around and to head north or using the roundabout at the junction of Highways 2 and 3 in Oak Bluff after it is constructed later this year.

Vido said that a man was killed in a crash at Oakland and the Perimeter in January, showing the need for improved traffic safety.

“We’ve long been supportive of closing those medians,” said reeve Brad Erb, but added that the Oak Bluff ‘s Industrial Road located on the west side of the Perimeter needs to be improved and extended over the rail tracks so it can funnel truck and other traffic north to the Wilkes Avenue cloverleaf.

Erb asked how he and other farmers will be able to move their farm equipment to fields along La Salle Road without having to drive on the Perimeter. Cuthbertson said the department might have to consider temporary restrictions to give farmers the ability to move their large machinery.