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Improvements on the radar

Improvements to the Town’s transportation network won’t be necessary in the foreseeable future. According to a study conducted by Watt Consulting Group Ltd., Okotoks roads won’t warrant a change in signals or intersection style for the next 25 years.
The intersection of Northridge Dr. and Elizabeth St. is easily one of the busiest intersections in Okotoks.
The intersection of Northridge Dr. and Elizabeth St. is easily one of the busiest intersections in Okotoks.

Improvements to the Town’s transportation network won’t be necessary in the foreseeable future.

According to a study conducted by Watt Consulting Group Ltd., Okotoks roads won’t warrant a change in signals or intersection style for the next 25 years. The work is years off, but the Town is planning for it now.

“This report puts a lot of future traffic improvements on our radar,” said Okotoks engineering manager Marley Oness.

The study updates the Town’s current transportation master plan, which has not seen changes since 2008 despite a drastic change in population and development.

Based on an estimated average growth of 1,270 people per year, the study analyzed traffic needs on Okotoks roads in 10-year intervals and identified work that would have to be done by 2025, 2035 and 2045.

Since most of the required improvements aren’t necessary until 25 to 35 years down the road, Oness said new development in the next few years can help offset those costs.

“Hopefully come the year 2025…there will be some monies accumulated through the off-site levies,” he said.

According to Tomasz Kroman, senior consultant with Watt Consulting, there will be considerable work required between 2025 and 2035 to accommodate the projected increase in traffic through town.

Expected costs range from just over $1.2 million in 2025 to close to $16 million by 2035.

While some intersections will need to have traffic signals installed, other roads may need more significant work.

“The expected traffic volumes are going to be large enough to justify twinning improvements on 32 Street, 338 Avenue and Highway 7,” said Kroman.

He said if development progresses as expected, Northridge Drive will need to be widened to six lanes as well.

Necessary improvements are identified based on the delay level at intersections and safety, he said. When delays begin to worsen, it denotes the need for traffic lights or other changes such as traffic circles.

Because links from Highway 2 into town join 32 Street, more intersections on the busy road need to be signalized moving forward, he said.

“The Stockton Avenue forecast of traffic volumes will operate at a level of service that will not be desirable at this location,” said Kroman. “Through traffic is increasing quite drastically because this is the access to the river crossing.

“With any development within the town [32 Street] is going to require more traffic lighting because it’s going to also take the brunt of the traffic coming from the outside.”

While some intersections tend to back up at certain times of day, Okotoks does not currently have significant traffic issues that warrant immediate work, he said.

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