It may not be what was initially asked for, but Longview’s mayor can live with a set of short-term recommendations intended to improve safety along Highway 22 through the village.

“This is the first step in a long-range plan and we have to see what works and what doesn’t,” said Ivor McCorquindale.

Alberta Transportation presented the results of a study of possible upgrades to the highway to Longview residents last week. The draft report was compiled after a survey was completed in December 2008 in response to concerns expressed by Longview council about safety on the road through the village.

Longview's mayor is satisfied with a number of recommendations to improve safety on Highway 22 through the village, however, he and residents want a traffic survey redone in the summer months.

It also assessed recommendations made by village council, including traffic lights, stop signs, reduced speed limits, speed bumps and rumble strips.

Cory Wilson, a project engineer with Opus International Consultants, said the village’s recommendations wouldn’t be feasible for the highway.

He suggested a few short-term improvements instead.

Firstly, Wilson said the school zone signs need to brought up to standard and 50 km per hour speed signs should be put up at both ends of the school zone.

“This just helps reiterate that you should be going 50 km per hour,” he said.

Secondly, Wilson said the parking lane could use a fresh coat of paint and a strategy should be developed to improve pavement and driveway markings.

He said the number one concern is an ambiguous lane configuration along the road through town.

“It’s really hard to tell if the right lane is for traffic or for parking,” he said.

According to Wilson, curb extensions could be a long-term option and in the short-term the Village could install plastic posts in parking lanes to see if it helps reduce traffic problems.

The Village had recommended traffic signals at the intersections of Highway 22 and Highway 540 and the Coal Trail.

Wilson explained they weren’t required and neither is a four-way stop at the Highway 540 intersection.

He also said traffic signals that aren’t warranted can actually cause collisions.

In addition, Wilson said dropping the speed limit won’t mean people will drive slower.

“Motorists typically drive according to what they think is appropriate for the road conditions,” he said.

He said speed bumps are intended as “spot treatments” for low speed, low traffic volume roads not a major highway.

Wilson said speeds seen along the road aren’t much different than what are found in other communities.

He said the average speed on the south end of the road was 50 km per hour and the average through the school zone was 33 km per hour. The speed limit through the village is 50 km per hour, with a 30 km per hour school zone on its north side.

As well, according to Alberta Transportation, the highway sees about 1,400 vehicles per day in both directions, approximately 10 to 12 per cent of which are semi-trucks.

Longview resident Kathie Selbee said the study should be done again at a different time of year.

“December isn’t reflective of overall speed practices. You definitely see it more in the summer,” she said.

Selbee said she is satisfied with the initial proposals and recognizes the need to balance the concerns of highway drivers and residents. However, she would also like to see more crosswalk lights installed along the road to improve safety for pedestrians.

Longview resident Rick Smith said there are no stops on Highway 22 between Black Diamond and Crowsnest Pass and, as a result, drivers don’t always slow down when they enter Longview.

With the school zone on Highway 22 covering nearly half the length of the village, he said it wouldn’t make much difference if the speed limit is dropped for the rest of the road.

“I threw it out as a suggestion. I just wonder why it’s not worth trying,” said Smith.

Tas Kollias, Alberta Transportation operations manager, said the traffic survey will be done again in spring or summer.

He said speeds are a concern and some signage needs to stand out letting motorists know they are entering a village

“Speeding is always a problem when you have a primary highway going through a community,” said Kollias.

He said he hopes the report can be completed in about two months and work can start on an action plan in the spring or summer.

0 Click Here to 'Like' this post

 Email This Post  Print This Post