More signage to divert the truck traffic coming through Wallaceburg is set to be explored, while a new bypass for the traffic is not being recommended.
Paul Santos, senior project manager for the Ministry of Transportation West Region and Scott Johnston, associate with the IBI group, provided Chatham-Kent council with a deputation on Monday, Nov. 23 about the Wallaceburg Highway 40 Travel Pattern Study.
The purpose of the study was to determine traffic and truck volumes traveling to and through Wallaceburg, along with identifying operational constraints, look into possible mitigation measures, and to analyse the need for follow-up studies.
Traffic counts were conducted for two weeks at seven locations in Wallaceburg using automated traffic recorders.
The most significant issue identified during the study, was a delay of up to 55 seconds for vehicles turning left from McNaughton Avenue onto Dufferin Avenue. The average delay was 20-35 seconds.
Some of the mitigation options include:
– A new Wallaceburg bypass: The MTO Plan since the 1980s, would cost upwards to $30 million.
– A bypass using an improved Base Line Road, would cost at least $9 million.
– Local improvements at McNaughton Avenue and Dufferin Ave., constructing a roundabout or other local
treatments would require property acquisition and significant construction.
– Signage and operational treatments
The study recommended the final option of new signage, which would:
– Encourage more trucks to use the Arnold Street route
– Would be a low cost compared to bypass options
The study found this would be less effective at addressing the delay issues, but “most appropriate considering study findings.”
They also recommended a further study to look into a signal timings review and a signage plan.
Mayor Randy Hope said Chatham-Kent will make an application in January for funds for the Connecting Link Project.
“The provinces budget is $15 million, we are eligible for a max of $3 million,” he said.
Hope added he believes there are other alternatives.
“Baseline you are saying is an option, Arnold you are saying is an option… what if you went over one and actually went up along side the Municipal Dock, where the urban area is, and actually draw a road up from the Base Line through there and that way you don’t have to build a bridge.”
Hope added: “Technically it is land acquisition. At Arnold St. you are creating more congestion where there already is congestion. You are not really solving the problem, you are just moving the problem from point A to point B.”
Wallaceburg Coun. Carmen McGregor said she would like to see less trucks coming through downtown Wallaceburg.
“I think things have changed in Wallaceburg since the original bypass was projected for Wallaceburg,” she said. “I think that dates back to when we had a full, busy industry there so quite understandable.The bigger problem that communities see in the area is the trucks going through the downtown area. There needs to definitely be better ways to divert them.”
McGregor added: “I hope we are reapplying. I would really hope that would happen but in the interim I’d really like to see better signage going into divert trucks. Even if it’s a weight class. Unless they deliver downtown or going to a gas station, there is absolutely no need to be going down through the centre of town. It’s causing many more problems.”
Sullo said a potential solution to the delay issue at Dufferin and McNaughton could be to extend the green left light for 30 more seconds.
“Would that mitigate a lot of this? There is some advantages to changing the timing, it’s something we would have to do some additional traffic counts specifically on McNaughton and Dufferin. The only way to extend that turn light is to bridge, which would be quite costly. We will be looking at time and what we can do to improve that. Particularly the entrances onto Dufferin and McNaughton.”
Thomas Kelly, general manager of infrastructure and engineering, said if Chatham-Kent is successful in landing the $3 million grant from the province, 20% of that total would go towards fixing the road, which McGregor said is littered with potholes.
“That would definitely resolve the problem in Wallaceburg,” Kelly said.
– Photo by Tami Schram
