Street revamp needs more study

Re. “Time to put the brakes on costly Stony Plain Road underpass plan,” Paula Simons, Feb 20

The underpass will not fundamentally change traffic going north and south on 149 Street at Stony Plain Road (SPR).

There would still be only two lanes going north and two lanes going south. The only saving in time would be the light sequence when traffic is turning off of SPR onto 149 Street as the turning lanes would be above the 149 Street underpass. How much time is really being saved and at what cost?

Access to SPR when travelling south on 149 Street would not be possible anymore. Also, the underpass requires the demolition of many important businesses on the east side of Jasper Gates and others north of SPR along 149 Street.

The city has stated the underpass would require major connection to the underground drainage system in MacKinnon Ravine. This plan is estimated to cost $200 million. Why would the underpass be recommended by administration before completing a traffic study?

Perhaps it has to do with the city’s objectives of increasing density by acquiring land for redevelopment.

I doubt removing these necessary businesses could be justified as a transit-oriented development objective.

Let’s wait for the traffic report and hopefully a community impact study before any decision is made.

D.O. Colwell, Edmonton