Caribou And 9th Avenue NW To Re-Open With Changed Traffic Flow

For motorists who regularly travel through the intersection of Caribou Street West and 9th Avenue NW the wait to motor on thru is about to come to an end.

In a late Friday afternoon release the City announced the underground and paving work was completed and the intersection was set to re-open likely this Wednesday once the line painting for the new traffic configuration is complete.

As of late Sunday afternoon the majority of the new line painting was complete (see photo below).

The intersection of 9th Ave NW an Caribou Street West looking north on 9th Avenue NW - MJ Independent photo

Under the new lane configuration both inside lanes going either north or south on 9th Avenue NW at the intersection with Caribou St West are left-hand turning lanes only.

Previously the inside lane on 9th Avenue NW was either a left turn or you could proceed straight thru.

The left turn lanes stop line on 9th Avenue NW is also recessed back from the intersection, in the past it was not.

A new sign will great motorists heading north or south on 9th Avenue NW through the lights at Caribou Street West - MJ Independent photo

The reasons given for the changes in lane configuration by the City was because of safety.

“The center lane is now a dedicated left turn lane so that in conjunction with some painted traffic boxes to pushback the stop light for vehicles will allow buses to make correct turns without having to go and infringe on lanes,” city engineer Bevan Harlton told Council in July, adding “and the big one is s dedicated left turn lane is just safer.”

See a video report explaining the reasons for the changes below.

As part of the upgrades the coils are now back in the street making the traffic control signals work with sensors to speed traffic through the intersection.

The intersection had been dug up as part of the 2021 Cast Iron Water Main Replacement Program and before this had suffered a major break causing flooding in the basement of William Grayson School as well as unknown number of area homes.