Traffic circle questioned
The town of St-Lazare plans to build a traffic circle at the intersection of Bédard Ave. and Chemin St-Louis, but not everyone is happy with the idea.
In fact, one city councillor has launched a petition to quash the traffic circle plan.
Marc-André Esculier, who won a District 4 byelection last fall to sit on council, said he prefers a basic traffic light, which he says would be less costly and just as effective as a traffic circle.
He said there’s no reason to go ahead with a “premature” expropriation of land for the traffic circle before the next municipal election on Nov. 5. By Monday, his online petition had collected close to 250 names.
Esculier also says a traffic light would be a more cost effective way of dealing with traffic issues at the intersection.
However, city officials maintain the traffic circle is the best option for easing traffic.
In a bid to counter the petition, the city launched its own information blitz “to rectify certain facts, clarify perceptions” and to inform citizens why the traffic circle is the best option for the growing city.
The town said it’s been closely monitoring traffic at the intersection for several years, and a 2013 cost assessment revealed that a traffic circle would cost $600,000 less than a traffic light. A traffic circle would also prove the “safest option, notably for heavy vehicles,” according to the town.
The town also noted that, due to expected population growth in the area that will bring more home and building construction (including a new regional hospital in Vaudreuil-Dorion), St-Lazare must be proactive in building its road network infrastructure