Villages looking at traffic options

BY NANCY KELLY

Kings County Register

With the consultations over, the Kingston and Greenwood village commissions now need to decide how to proceed with recommendations from the Bridge Street traffic study.

Last fall, the villages, the County of Kings and the provincial Department of Transportation commissioned a study to evaluate traffic along the Bridge Street corridor between Kingston’s two exits off the 101 Highway and the Greenwood Mall area. A public meeting was held in the winter and stakeholders held a final meeting with CBCL Engineering Consultants recently for a review of the report.

In Greenwood, commissioners expect the bulk of work will focus on a re-alignment of the intersection at Baker’s Corner, redesigned for commercial development nearly two years ago. The study recommends lane changes at the corner and the addition of bicycle lanes on existing routes. Commission chairman Roland Joly estimates it will probably be next year before Baker’s Corner sees any major changes and bike lines will be added as roads are repaved.

Kingston has more options to look at. The study recommends widening the intersection of Maple and Main streets and adding a turning lane or an island on Maple to ease congestion at the corner. The study recognizes the lack of direction for traffic turning in and out of the Tim Hortons, Needs and B&H locations adds to the confusion at the intersection; and recommends working with the businesses to seek a solution. Installation of street lights was not included in the recommedations for that intersection, as a traffic count showed there is not sufficient volume.

Another area of concern was the intersection of Bridge Street and Markland Road, a well-travelled shortcut since the development of the SuperStore. The study recommends blocking off Markland at one end or the other, or making it one way street, to discourage stop-and-go traffic just south of the traffic lights at Bridge and Main streets.

While truck traffic through the village was also identified as a problem, a suggestion to re-designate Glebe Road east of Kingston as a truck route was deemed not feasible because of load-bearing concerns about a bridge on that highway.

Recommendations were also made to improve pedestrian safety on Main Street at the corner of Park Street. Consultants say the existing crosswalk needs to have improved overhead lighting and should have sidewalks “bumped out” to bring pedestrians into better view of drivers.

Kingston village chairman Steve Nickerson says the commission will study the report in detail, establish costs for the recommendations and consult with residents and business owners before acting.