Intersections To Get Upgrades

A couple of intersections are set to receive upgrades as Council approved the deferred capital projects but there is one intersection which did not make the list. One which was previously denied but has been appealed by the residents most affected.

At their August 23rd meeting Council voted to resume a number of deferred capital projects including intersection upgrades at a bugetted cost of $682,835. Tendering out the two intersections was part of a list of recommendations made in a financial update report presented to Council which showed there was sufficient capital funding to commence with $1,777,882 in previously approved 2020 capital projects.

The two intersections to be upgraded are 9th Avenue NW and Caribou Street W and 1st Avenue NW and Athabasca Street W. Both are listed as Priority One capital projects. The City now prioritizes capital projects on a variety of criteria with Priority One being the top priority and most likely to receive funding.

Asked by Councillor Chris Warren what the status was of the two proposed intersection upgrades director of engineering Bevan Harlton said “that project is tender ready we are just waiting on Council approval here.”

One of the most notable missing capital projects was the proposed enhanced pedestrian crossing at Thatcher Drive West at Iron Bridge Estates. The project had been discussed during the 2020 Capital Budget deliberations.

Mayor Fraser Tolmie questioned why the upgrade for Iron Bridge was not included in the intersections to be upgraded.

“During our budget process we had discusssed Thatcher Avenue and the Iron Bridge (Estates) crossing as a concern and my impression was we had that included in our budget for this year as a priority and is that already listed in priorities…where are we with that intersection?” Mayor Tolmie asked.

City manager Jim Puffalt said the intersection upgrade appeal still needed to go through the a Public Works, Infrastructure and Environment Advisory Committee (PWIEAC). The committee which had not met since March 4th because most advisory committees had been shuttered in March because of the COVID - 19 pandemic.

“The transportation committee is meeting next week and so that report is going to that commitee next week,” Puffalt said.

“I think reviewing my notes one of the reasons we kind of discussed it in the budget process was because it was being held up in the transportation committee. So I would be very interested to see that report and where we are going to go with that,” Mayor Tolmie replied.

At their September 3rd meeting PWIEAC passed a motion to request Council to propose an interim solution and then after a proper traffic count and a report from a traffic engineer propose a permanent solution which may or may not include the overhead lights requested byt the residents of Iron Bridge Estates.

It also needs to be noted that due to when the Iron Bridge development was annexed into the City of Moose Jaw there were no provisions for off-site levies and the development never paid any. The proposed enhanced intersection upgrade is being paid for by all City of Moose Jaw taxpayers.

Off-site levies are used to pay for infrastructure not in a development but helps to support a development. They include, but are not limited to, roadways to access, recreational facilities, water and sewer upgrades, landscaping of other areas attached and pedestrian access to the development.