VERNON – When it comes to improving a busy Vernon area intersection, the third time might not be the charm.
After its first two plans were criticized, the provincial Ministry of Transportation has unveiled its latest proposal for the intersection at Stickle Road and Highway 97.
However, many are not impressed with this plan either because it does not include the one key component critics of the first two plans had called for: a traffic light.
“It would be a lot cheaper to just throw the light in,” said Lynda Roberts who says in a Stickle Road area campground every year.
Under the latest plan commuters won’t be able to turn left from Stickle Road onto the highway.
Instead, those looking to head into Vernon from the east side of the highway would use a new road connecting the Stickle Frontage Road to 20 Street.
Meanwhile, those looking to head north on the west side of the highway would have to head south first and turn around.
“It’s not conducive to having people who are driving to have a pleasant experience,” said local business owner Alan Hannebauer.
But the province defends the arrangement. Spencer King said the turnaround would be “intuitive and simple.”
“I’ve timed it. It is four to five minutes,” said King, senior project manager with the Ministry of Transportation.
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Some critics aren’t impressed with that solution.
“Anybody who wants to go southbound has to follow a tortuous path,” said Hannebaur. “They have to come out all the way through all the little back streets.”
Meanwhile, Roberts thinks the acceleration lane planned for people leaving the nearby campground to head south is too short for the RVs that use the facility to get up to highway speeds.
“The acceleration lane I think is in the neighbourhood of 320 meters. It is our standard acceleration lane for a 90 kilometer design on a high volume highway. It’s a design standard,” said King.
As for a traffic light, the province says that would back up traffic and could cause more accidents. King points out vehicles are already merging off of 27th Avenue and coming over an overpass within 600 meters of the intersection.
“You add into that queuing traffic at a signal light, that certainly raises the level of concern in the area and could, and most likely would increase the frequency of accidents,” said King.
The local regional district area director says he supports the new plan.
“I think it wasn’t what was originally asked for, which was a signalized intersection, but I think it is a significant improvement over what the current situation is. It is something I am in favour of for that reason,” said Bob Fleming.
Fleming points out that instead of simply banning left turns this plan adds the connection to 20 Street which creates another option for drivers heading south.
“This solution actually provides a road into the city to a signalized intersection. It also provides for both pedestrian and cyclist space on the road design,” said Fleming.
As consultations continue until June 10, the ministry says it’s open to making further changes to the project.
Construction could begin as early as the fall depending how many more changes are on the way.
The cost of the latest proposed upgrades is estimated at $9.5 million.
The Province was unable to provide information Friday on whether or not putting a traffic light at the intersection would be cheaper.
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