Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The territorial government is considering installing a roundabout, similar to a traffic circle, as part of the Ingraham Trail realignment project.

The Department of Transportation is planning to install a roundabout on Highway 4. Mayor Gord van Tighem says the department has taken too long to consult with the city. - image courtesy of the Department of Transportation

The roundabout, designed to enhance traffic flow, would be constructed near the entrance of Fred Henne Territorial Park and the entrance of the JackFish power plant by November 2012, according to Larry Purcka, head of design and technical support services for the Department of Transportation (DOT). He made a presentation to city council at Monday's municipal services committee meeting.

If it goes ahead, it would be the first of its kind in the Northwest Territories and would be part of the government's efforts to widen the road between Old Airport Road and Jackfish Lake Hill.

A roundabout allows vehicles to proceed more freely with yield signs, Purcka said. Traffic circles, on the other hand, tend to place greater restrictions on drivers, such as with stop signs or traffic lights.

Purcka stated that while the area of the proposed new roundabout sees more than 5,000 vehicles pass through everyday, a roundabout would allow for up to 20,000.

A similar plan had been presented to the public Sept. 1 at Northern United Place.

"It is time for the North to catch up in this area and if we are going to do it there is a lot of work to do," Purcka said.

If a roundabout is built, he said the Department of Transportation would organize public information sessions to teach drivers how to use them - something city councillors indicated would be a good idea given that roundabouts and traffic circles can be difficult to navigate at first. Two examples of traffic circles are located in Edmonton near the University of Alberta and the downtown airport.

Mayor Gord Van Tighem suggested that Purcka consult with city traffic engineering officials so that any proposals that are finalized by the territorial government meet the city's 50-year traffic plan. Van Tighem said he is concerned that the project, if not done properly, could create more problems for the flow of traffic leading to the Tibbitt-to-Contwoyto winter road to the diamond mines,

"We have known that they were going to do this project, but it has taken quite a while for them to consult with us," he said. "It has been a bit of a confusing process, but we won't really know what is going to happen until we see the final design."

Purcka indicated that he has further consultations to complete, including First Nations, other territorial and federal government representatives and the Giant Mine Remediation Team.

The GNWT's preferred route begins at Fred Henne Territorial Park and connects to the Ingraham Trail just before the Yellowknife River bridge. Selection of the route is expected to be finalized in November, before engineering and environmental studies are completed later that month. Construction is expected to commence for highway realignment in the late winter or early spring with a closing date in November 2012.

Mayor and council expressed some concern that Purcka's presentation did not include a price at this stage of the planning.

However, Purcka assured that money for the project had been allotted.

"We have secured enough for the current estimates, so we have enough money to do it," he said, but would not reveal the estimates to Yellowknifer as he said it could interfere with a future bidding process.

Previous figures supplied by the department have put the total price tag for the preferred highway alignment option at $17 million.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.