Street sense
Concepts for Bible Hill intersection unveiled
People who attended a public meeting on changes to a couple of Bible Hill intersections had several questions and comments after viewing three concepts.
Engineering consultants WSP Canada reviewed traffic projections over the next 20 years in the area where Pictou and College roads meet Main Street and brought forth three options for improving traffic flow.
Option 1
This option involves two intersections, remaining where they now are but with extra lanes for turning. Both intersections would have traffic lights.
This option has the largest amenity space, which would become a village square with car access and parking, park space and a commercial building.
Option 2
Option 2 includes a roundabout at the end of Pictou Road. Traffic would not be able to turn left at the end of College Road, but would turn right and go through the roundabout to enter the lane heading into town.
This option includes amenity space with car access and parking.
Option 3
Option 3 has a roundabout centred between the ends of Pictou and College roads. Traffic
coming down either road would enter directly into the roundabout. It has the least amount of amenity space, with no parking for cars.
The proposed roundabouts would be similar in size to the one on Robie Street (possibly a little smaller) and have a single lane that vehicles remain in until they exit. The sentiment expressed most often by residents who attended the meeting was that work should be done on Park Street first. Locations for a new Highway 104 interchange (with Highway 311, Brookside Road or an area in between) are also under review, and if one were completed it could impact the Bible Hill intersections.
“Do you need an interchange? Will there be any benefit to it?” said Greg O’Brien, project manager
with WPS. “That question’s not known and we’re attempting to help provide an answer to that.”
Ann Winters, urban planner with WPS, said if a large enough amenity space existed some of the space could be sold to private developers. WPS will look at all of the information compiled, including feedback received during the evening, and hopes to have their study completed by the end of March. No estimate of costs on any of the intersection options is available yet.
Dwayne Cross, access management engineer with the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, said nothing may need to be done for several years but the study allows the department to make longterm plans.