There's new paint on the road at a busy Highway 7 intersection, but neighbouring residents say it's still not enough.
There's new paint on the road at a busy Highway 7 intersection, but neighbouring residents say it's still not enough.
Area residents and the MD of Foothills have been lobbying the Province to make improvements to Highway 7 west of Okotoks, particularly after two serious collisions one day apart in January and a fatality at the end of July.
The fatality occurred at 64 Street, but most incidents are at 16 Street (Big Rock Trail), a common shortcut to Highway 7 west from Okotoks.
The main issue raised has been unsafe conditions while turning left off the highway onto 16 Street, or merging onto the highway with traffic traveling at 100 km/h or faster. Problems include poor visibility for merging and unclear lane designations, as the right-hand lane was to be a turn-off or merge lane while the left-hand lane was for thru-traffic and left turns.
In response to concerns, Alberta Transportation painted new lines on Highway 7 on Aug. 16 with signage along the highway indicating the right lane is now for thru-traffic, while the left lane is a designated turning lane.
Chinook Honey Farms owner Cherie Andrews isn't convinced it will be enough. For one thing, there aren't any signs on 16 Street or Big Rock Trail to tell motorists there is no merge lane, she said.
“It certainly won't help in the short term – it's worse,” said Andrews. “They haven't really done a 100 per cent job of educating the drivers.”
She said there needs to be more done for drivers on 16 Street as they approach the intersection.
“You dare not poke into a lane that was formerly a merge lane – you'll get rear-ended for sure,” said Andrews. “I don't know where this is going to go, but it's pretty spooky right now.”
She said she'd prefer to see a traffic lights or a traffic circle at the intersection.
“Because people really won't see a need to slow down, it creates a worse problem as far as crossing traffic and everything else,” said Andrews. “In the meantime, drivers need to be even more vigilant and aware.”
MD of Foothills Coun. Delilah Miller said she'll keep pushing the Province to continue to make improvements at the dangerous intersection.
She said there should be more changes on the way, but Alberta Transportation indicated those wouldn't be put in place until traffic volumes increased enough to warrant more action.
Anna Neale, spokesperson for Alberta Transportation, said changing the lane designation and painting new lines - a project that cost $10,000 - should address current traffic volume at Highway 7 and 16 Street. The Province doesn't intend to make further changes in the near future, she said.
"No further work is planned at this intersection at this time," said Neale in a written statement. "Subject to available funding, Alberta Transportation will undertake the design work required to implement longer-term improvements (widening the turning tapers, lengthening acceleration lanes, installing street lights)."
The estimated cost of potential future improvements is $1.35 million, she said, and the work is not currently in the government's three-year construction program.
Miller said she'd like to see something done sooner to make the intersection safer in the interim.
Waiting until development in Okotoks occurs, like the Wind Walk development south of Okotoks, which has been approved by Okotoks council, could be risky, she said. The intersection is already dangerous and increased growth will impact safety, she said.
“I want to see the speed reduced and the intersection illuminated before it gets busy, not waiting until it gets so busy they're forced to do it,” said Miller. “I'd like them to be proactive on it.”
