City Manager Responds To Call For Action Regarding Intersection

By Robert Thomas

With the City once again calling for the Province to install traffic control lights at the intersection of 9th Avenue NW and the TransCanada Highway at Tuesday morning’s press scrum MJ Independent asked city manager Jim Puffalt what he thought about the intersection and the 50 plus years process it has taken so far.

Pufflt said he was in full agreement with Mayor Clive Tolley about the need to make changes and had also personally witnessed what some have termed the on-going chaos at the intersection.

“I actually drove that intersection the other day and it was I almost wanted to stop at the side of the road. As there was a semi on each side and trying to get onto Number One (highway), traffic was backed up all the way down Ninth (Avenue NW) and I find it is a dangerous intersection regardless of other thoughts. I think people in Moose Jaw know how busy it is and it is just going to get more busier,” he said.

The intersection of 9th Avenue NW and the TransCanada Highway has been called a death trap by Council - MJ Independent file photo

The city manager made mention of growing economic activity put pressure on the intersection worsening the traffic flow.

“As we said last night we have a lot of economic activity right along that corridor with Brandt Industries and Donald’s Fine Foods and the (Agri-Foods) Industrial Park. So there is going to be a lot more traffic there. It is just going to get worse. So it is really important we think that we get the Province to listen. Especially on that intersection to give us a hand with that to make it safer because it is just going to get worse,” he said.

The North Service Road business group has also completed a report about the need to install traffic control lights as a safety measure and presented it to the Minister at a face to face meeting.

“Donald’s Fine Foods they are bringing trucks in all day. We know that Brandt is going to be manufacturing trailers and they are going to be hauling them out of here. So there is going to be more things happening there. So it is really important that we come to some conclusion with the Province on that intersection.”

Puffalt made mention of intersection of TransCanada and Thatcher Drive East as being more busier intersection on the highway but there are no businesses along a connected exterior service road.

“And for sure the other one (intersection of Thatcher Drive East and the TrnsCanada Highway) even more busier if you look at traffic stats to vehicle moves per day. It is just busier and it is going to get worse. But they (Department of Highways) are doing a corridor study and we feel that they will include that in the corridor study,” he said

As you look at it but (the intersection of) 9th and the (TransCanada) Highway have been an issue forever as his worship said for 40 or 50 years. It is a dangerous intersection.”