Two new intersection signals along Main Street might be the best solution for dealing with an anticipated increase in traffic activity related to the future Airdrie Multi-Use Facility and Library, according to a recent traffic study.
Council accepted the presentation for information, which included the new traffic signals slated in the 2025 Capital Budget.
Council was brought another report at the same meeting that looked at the redevelopment of Main Street. This report suggested five roundabouts along Main Street, negating the use of signal lights, and single lane configuration.
Coun. Ron Chapman and Coun. Tina Petrow both noted they did not want to throw away money on temporary solutions, but administration assured council the signals, which are intended as an interim condition, could be used elsewhere in the community if they are no longer necessary.
Council also accepted that report for information, and administration noted the redevelopment of Main Street will take many years of consultation and planning, pushing the Main Street redevelopment beyond 2032.
If roundabouts are later approved in place of the signal lights, the signals can be disassembled and placed on a future arterial road, stated administration.
The Airdrie Multi-Use Facility and Library (AMUFL), slated to open its doors in Q3 of 2025, is a major development generating activity and traffic that requires some mitigation.
The City learned adjacent residents to the building are concerned about increased traffic and intersection control allowing them to move in and out of their neighbourhoods.
A traffic impact study and parking report was done by engineering firm, CIMA+ Canada Ic., to get a better idea of traffic, capacity, and reduced service issues on Main Street.
The study took into consideration programming at the new facility, as well as demographics and modes of transportation.
Their study suggested signalization is required at the intersections of Elk Hill, Ridgegate, and at the southernmost entrance with Towerlane Centre, BMO, and AHS.
René Rosvold, team lead from CIMA, said these are needed to provide acceptable access to the site.
Without signals, she added these intersections would experience more delay than desirable.
“To signalize the library access would also require that two of the accesses to the East side were consolidated with the library,” Rosvold said. “This substantially improved conditions for the library. The intersections at Ridgegate Way and the Towerland Centre would also be considered for signalization to alleviate the delays shown.”
When signalizing all three interactions, which are about 230 metres apart, this would result in less than 100 metre spacing between the library access and the Towerlane South Access.
Due to this, the recommended solution was to place signals at Ridgegate Way, as well as the entrance to Towerlane Centre, with a stop sign at the library entrance.
Without the signals on opening day of the AMUFL, the northbound turning movement from AMUFL onto Main Street would fail, stated administration.
Signalizing these two intersections also reduces the need for the existing mid-block pedestrian crossing of Main Street at ATB Financial, where it connects to the bus shelter adjacent to Towerlane Centre.
Later in the meeting, administration explained that if roundabouts are later approved in those areas, pedestrian sidewalks will be placed at the entrance of either side of the roundabouts.
