ONE WAY TO EASE SNARLS
Two avenues will become one-way routes to facilitate 17th Avenue construction
Construction that has caused traffic headaches along 17th Avenue S.W. is prompting the city to convert two nearby roads, 14th and 15th avenues, to one-way streets.
Mayor Naheed Nenshi is raising concerns about a plan to convert 14th and 15th avenues S.W. from two-way to one-way traffic.
The change is being billed as a way to help people navigate around construction on 17th Avenue S.W.
But Nenshi is concerned it will turn 14th and 15th avenues into expressways.
“The question I’ve asked to the administration is to help me understand whether they have balanced the needs of the commuters that need to get through the area, with the needs of the people who live in the area, with the needs of the businesses that rely on visitors to the area. I just want to make sure this is the right decision for all three of those areas.”
Nenshi is also concerned about whether there was sufficient consultation with the community.
“There has been extraordinarily deep consultation with the businesses along 17th Avenue, I know there’s been a lot of consultation with the Beltline Neighbourhoods Association, I don’t know how much consultation there has been with the citizens that live on those streets.”
Jessica Bell, a spokeswoman for the city’s transportation department, said that in early April, information was presented at an open house. There has also been outreach through geo-targeting on Facebook as well as canvassing the residential buildings along the affected avenues with posters.
Detour signs will direct traffic from the construction area on 17th Avenue onto 14th and 15th Avenues.
Bell said electronic signs will be installed in the area, “so for people who may not live in the area and are travelling around that area will be informed of it as well.”
Between Macleod Trail and 14th Street S.W., 14th Avenue will become one way heading westbound, and 15th Avenue will be one lane of eastbound traffic.
Bell said the change will allow for more predictability and safety for motorists and pedestrians.
Peter Oliver, president of the Beltline Neighbourhoods Association, said the 17th Avenue reconstruction project will affect the Beltline community.
“I think 14th and 15th Avenues is really a way of trying to mitigate that,” said Oliver. “We might see more traffic going through the Beltline, but I think we were going to be getting that anyway, and this allows us to manage that.”
Businesses along 17th Avenue are already feeling the effects of the ongoing construction, though, David Low, executive director of the Victoria Park Business Improvement Area, said this option will have the least impact.
“We’re very sympathetic and aware of the challenges small businesses have and the work that has to occur, and the two-way conversion of 14th and 15th is the most optimal traffic flow solution.”
Parking will be available on both sides of the avenues, although some parking will be removed to accommodate transit detours and bus stops.
The one-way traffic conversion will begin May 23 and will be in place for the duration of the construction along 17th Avenue, which is expected to last three to four years.