Conversation at the County council meeting July 8 was spurred by a fatality at 306 Avenue and Highway 2 on July 7, as well as multiple collisions along the stretch of highway between the Okotoks and Aldersyde overpasses in the past few years as motorists attempt to cross the busy highway to access acreages, business, or the Town of Okotoks.
The County has been discussing how to make it safer to travel for years, and administration’s suggested solution was to request Alberta Transportation close medians at 306 Ave., 338 Ave. (at Integrity Post Structures), and 370 Ave. (near Beaver Dam Nursery).
Coun. R.D. McHugh agreed with the recommendations to make 338 Ave. and 370 Ave. right-in, right-out intersections at Highway 2, but requested 306 Ave. be closed completely to traffic in either direction to help alleviate volumes and safety concerns there.
“I thought about this full closure and the impact on 32 Street quite a bit but it is definitely going to force the traffic over to 306 Ave. and Highway 2A,” said McHugh. “The reason I’m looking for a full closure and not a right-in, right-out there is to stem the amount of traffic that comes down Highway 2 from Calgary and uses that as access to Okotoks, the commercial development such as Costco.”
He said eliminating that access should push more traffic down Highway 2A and remove some of the congestion on 32 Street.
However, it will put more pressure on 306 Ave. and Highway 2A, he said. In its request to Alberta Transportation, County council requested Alberta Transportation move the traffic lights at Highway 2A and 306 Ave., at Hebson Arena and Big Sky BBQ Pit, up on the priority list.
Design for the traffic lights on Highway 2A is currently being finalized by a consultant firm and approval from Alberta Transportation is pending, said Jeff Edgington, Foothills supervisor of infrastructure and public works.
“Perhaps with the direction from council for us to tell Alberta Transportation to close 370 Ave. and 306 Ave. and 338 Ave. we could use this as a bit of leverage to have them rethink the signalization at 306 Ave. and Highway 2A,” said Edgington.
He said the County will await comment from Okotoks town council as to whether it would support pushing ahead the traffic lights to help alleviate traffic from 32 Street.
McHugh said he would also recommend Alberta Transportation be asked to consider changes to the overpass at Highway 552 and Highway 2 (the Okotoks overpass), which currently has single-lane traffic heading from the east onto Highway 2A as opposed to the double lanes in the opposite direction.
“There is no doubt we are going to have more traffic and increased volumes, but just a note that the overpass at Highway 552 is going to be in need of some upgrade as well,” said McHugh.
Krista Conrad, OkotoksToday.ca
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