Changes Coming To Driving Lanes For Stretch Of 1st Avenue NW
If the weather permits commencing October 8th there are going to become major traffic flow enhancements to 1st Avenue NW between Manitoba Street West and Oxford Street West drivers should be aware of.
The City is changing this section of 1st Ave NW from its present four driving lane configuration to a three lane driving configuration.
New lines will be painted and each side of the street will have a thru lane with the center lane being dedicated to left hand turns only.
What the new traffic lanes will look like - City of Moose Jaw handout
Speaking on his podcast “Notorious Jawcast” communications director Craig Hemingway said the changes to the traffic flow configuration was decided upon after study by the Engineering Department and seen as an upgrade to better traffic flow as well as increasing the number of parking spots in the area being upgraded.
First Ave NW from Manitoba St W to Oxford St W “will be adjusted to three lanes of traffic. Yes there will be new lines put down on 1st Avenue NW between Manitoba Street and Oxford Street,” Hemingway said.
“The three lanes of traffic will be laid out as such - one full driving lane of northbound thru traffic and one driving lane of southbound thru traffic and the middle driving lane dedicated to left turn driving only traffic for travellers in each direction.”
There are benefits to the traffic lane enhancements.
“These changes will result in more parking ability along 1st Ave NW in line with the City's traffic bylaw,” Hemingway said.
“The reason for this our folks in Transportation have done an extensive study of traffic patterns on 1st Ave NW and based on that study separating left turn traffic from thru traffic was was determined to be safer than the existing drive Kane configurations.”
The new design will accommodate traffic demands in addition to more parking spots on the stretch of 1st Ave NW undergoing the traffic lane enhancements, Hemingway said.
INTERSECTION UPGRADES
In addition to the new driving lane configuration there are also projects underway involving upgrades of two intersections.
The intersections of 1st Ave NW and Caribou Street West as well as 9th Avenue SW and Lilloet Street West will be upgraded with crews working simultaneously on both intersections.
The upgrades include revised approaches, new signals, new pedestrian push buttons and improved ramps.
The City asks people to exercise caution around the construction zones and obey all signage for the safety of everyone.