Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Aug10/01) - A curb war is raging on an Old Town street and ground zero is an emergency city committee meeting called for today.

Construction on McDonald Drive is now frozen after some residents and business owners, incensed over the city's decision to build raised curbs on their street, called a public meeting Tuesday night.

Residents demanded rolling curbs be installed, prompting councillors in attendance to call for a halt.

But city officials said the square, concrete barrier curbs that have just been poured are there in the interest of public safety and to comply with national standards for a one-way street.

Today council is expected to decide whether to make changes to the curbs or let things stand.

Changes could cost the city between $30,000 to $50,000, but the residents argued the status quo is not acceptable.

They complained the barrier curbs will make it impossible to park along the street and difficult for service vehicles and cars and trucks with trailers to enter driveways.

"You're applying municipal standards to a place where you can't," said Wayne Guy, who lives at 3514 McDonald Dr.

City officials said that McDonald Drive is a busy thoroughfare, with 2,200 cars taking the one-way road into Old Town every day.

"The barriers will keep the vehicles on the road more times than not," said Norm Kyle, transportation engineer with the city's public works department.

Only one city councillor in attendance supported the residents outright.

Coun. Robert Hawkins said the city should do what the residents want. But the two other councillors in attendance, Wendy Bisaro and Ben McDonald, said they want to hear staff's reasons for the barrier curbs before making a decision. An administrative report is on the agenda of today's committee meeting. Changing the curbs will require a special council meeting Monday.

Residents did have an opportunity on June 6 to attend a public meeting on plans for their street, but only one resident showed up.

David Connelly, who lives at 3520 McDonald Dr., said the city should have been more clear on its intentions for the street. "It's up to the communicator to communicate clearly," said Connelly. "Obviously there was a breakdown somewhere," he said.