Dorothy Westerman
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sep 09/05) - Several store owners along Old Airport Road say the current road construction is short term pain for long term gain.

"The traffic flow along here hasn't really diminished a lot because it is such a major road but it really needs to be done," says Dave Lucas, owner of the Sears Canada Inc. outlet.

"The speed and the amount of traffic through here are way too high, so they are putting curbs in for sidewalks so it is safer for people to walk along the street. We'll have a bit more pedestrian traffic going through here," Lucas says of the area in front of his business.

The construction is causing a few headaches, however. Lucas says the large transport truck which regularly delivers goods is unable to back into his small lot.

Therefore, smaller truckloads are brought across the street into his store, he says.

John Kavanagh, owner of Canadian Tire, says the construction was anticipated and they are not experiencing problems entering or exiting the store parking lot.

"We're looking forward to the road improvements," Kavanagh says.

Greg Kehoe, director of public works for the city, says the $800,000 road improvements are needed for a couple of reasons.

"One is traffic congestion and the other is traffic safety," Kehoe says.

"We're widening Old Airport Road from before the Co-op turn, up to Borden Drive just past Canadian Tire," he says.

The road will be widened and a new centre turning lane will be added.

Help with congestion

"Currently there are two lanes of traffic and now there will be a third lane for people wanting to make a left hand turn.

"That should help with traffic congestion."

The second improvement will be to add the sidewalk, Kehoe says.

"It will be added on the Canadian Tire side of the road and run the entire length of the construction zone."

An added barrier curb will provide another level of safety for pedestrians and bikers, he says. For enhanced drainage along that area, Kehoe says a new drainage culvert was added on Sunday.

Last year, street lights were added along the road to increase visibility at night, Kehoe notes.

The extensive project began in early September and should be completed in about three weeks, depending on weather, Kehoe says.

Farther down Old Airport Road, Kehoe says an additional lane for making a right hand turn will be installed before the traffic lights at Borden Drive.

A new bus shelter - in addition to the one at Co-op - also has been added in the vicinity to accommodate new bus routes, he says.

At the Range Lake/Old Airport Road intersection, the road will be widened to have a dedicated left hand turning lane leaving the hospital, he says.

"But that requires considerable electrical work underneath the road in terms of tying in all the traffic lights," he says.

That's led to traffic congestion at the intersection in recent days, he says.