July 12, 2002
City council would
like to see less congestion and more movement through Iqaluits intersections.
(FILE PHOTO)
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Consultant report recommends
easing traffic flow in Iqaluit
Bylaw officers should
serve as crossing guards at Four Corners during lunch time
NUNATSIAQ NEWS
The citys engineering
department wants to make traffic flow more easily through Iqaluits busy
intersections.
At this weeks city
council meeting, the engineering department presented recommendations based
on an intersection study completed by Dillon Consulting.
Dillon studied five intersections,
including the one at Four Corners, the hospital, NorthMart, Joamie school and
the one between the Navigator and Discovery hotels.
For the Four Corners, which
is generally seen at the busiest traffic area in town, the consultants suggest
the city put bylaw officers there at lunch time to direct traffic. They caution,
however, against putting in traffic lights because the short periods of traffic
congestion dont justify the high cost of installing lights.
The study also indicates
that the four stop signs at the hospital intersection should stay in place.
There had been some question among city councillors about whether the stop sign
that heads to Apex Road is really necessary, and suggested installing a yield
sign there instead. But the consultants say removing the stop sign could create
a safety hazard for pedestrians.
There appears to be a problem
with pedestrian safety at the NorthMart intersection. Traffic is high because
of the number of people entering the grocery store and Nakasuk School on the
other side of the road. The consultants recommend the city install crosswalk
marks across Ring Road.
As for the intersection
near Joamie school, the consultants suggest more pedestrian-traffic safety education
for school children is needed. They also recommend installing permanent crosswalks
in the school and playground area. It would also help if "school zone"
and "drive slowly" signs were posted, they said.
Matthew Hough, the citys
engineering director, said Dillons findings are just recommendations and
its up to council if it wants to act on them.
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