TransCanada Overpasses
Face it, we all hate waiting at the lights on Dunmore Road to cross the TransCanada, waiting to turn left onto 15th Street SW by the Husky, and to a lesser extent, turning left onto 7th Street SW by the Callaghan Inn.
I have seen many accidents at the Dunmore Road / TransCanada intersection and a few along the TransCanada through town. So why not just turn all these intersections into overpasses? It might cost a lot of money, but I would not rather see the aggravation of fellow drivers while they are waiting followed by them getting slammed by an 18 wheeler. Even one would probably relieve a lot of traffic congestion. Although that might increase the congestion at other intersections.
Unless we are willing to rename Medicine Hat from “The Gas City” to “The Vehicle-Emissions City” and let motorists idle for 5-15 minutes, especially driving to Walmart on a Saturday or Sunday, I think it is time a solution was created for these intersections.
August 4th, 2010 at 12:06 PM
Orillian says:
From what I understand to do this someone has to convince the provincial government to do it. Since the #1 is a provincial responsibility they dictate what, when and how for overpasses and anything else like that.
An example is the intersection into the light industrial. The provincial gov, has been threatening to simply block it off for years now. Last I heard about a year ago the occupants of the light industrial were fighting the decision.
O.
August 4th, 2010 at 12:35 PM
gary says:
They have wanted to get rid of the Dunmore/Transcanada traffic lights for a long time. It’s about the money. They have had to prioritize the overpasses, there were other more dangerous intersections to deal with, such as South Ridge Drive/Transcanada and 13th ave/Transcanada. Now that those two have been dealt with Dunmore/Transcanada is close to being next in line for an overpass. If you look, you’ll be able to see that the road bed has been constructed to allow for an overpass to be quickly made when the money becomes available.
August 5th, 2010 at 8:32 AM
Dean says:
I read a few years ago that the Province, in long-range planning, intends to route the #1 South of the city and West of Redcliff. That way traffic using the highway would never enter into the city and be able to maintain 110km/hr with off- and on-ramps for access to the city.
Perhaps that factors into the Province being so slow in funding an overpass at Dunmore Rd as eventually there will be less traffic on what is now the #1 inside the city.