The city won’t be doing anything soon about what is arguably the most irritating and hotly debated traffic issue in Port Alberni.
City officials say unless significant new development occurs, there is no justification for improving traffic flow at the intersection of River Road (Hwy. 4) and Beaver Creek Road.
Traffic data reveals it is far from being the most crash-prone spot in the city.
ICBC crash data for Port Alberni reveals the top accident site in 2011 was Gertrude Street and Roger Street and Stamp Avenue, which had a total of 15 accidents.
Tied for second place with 10 crashes at each site were: Gertrude and Johnston Road; 10th Avenue at Redford Street; and Fourth Avenue and Dunbar Street.
Beaver Creek Road and River Road were among 18 additional sites that each recorded five crashes last year.
Port Alberni city councillor Wendy Kerr brought up the intersection at the Aug. 13 council meeting, noting drivers are frustrated by long waits there and, “a lot of people won’t even try to turn onto River Road from Beaver Creek.”
After reviewing the statistics for the site, Kerr noted higher traffic volume over the summer months is, “the price we pay for tourism.
“It certainly is a problem, but it is a very seasonal problem,” she said.
Kerr conceded it would be difficult to justify spending the money to install a light there.
She did propose alternate solutions, including moving the location of the entrance/exit to Clutesi Haven Marina, and signage warning drivers to slow down and watch out for pedestrians.
“I don’t want to see anyone get hurt, there are so many pedestrians there,” she said.
Over the summer months, thousands of cars travel through the city to the West Coast of Vancouver Island each day.
At the close of Thunder in the Valley over the Aug. 11–13 weekend, traffic along Hwy. 4 heading into the city was congested for hours, and drivers attempting to turn left onto River Road from Beaver Creek Road were forced to wait for rare breaks in traffic flow, or for a good Samaritan to let them in.
City engineer Guy Cicon confirmed he receives many inquiries about the junction.
A report was done on the intersection in 2007, prompted in part by the possibility of future development at nearby Clutesi Haven Marina and Stirling Field. If either (or both) sites are developed, traffic will increase, meaning more delays and a greater potential for accidents, the report noted.
The Ministry of Transportation (MOT), the city, ICBC and the Port Alberni Port Authority partnered on the report, which focused on, the performance and operation of that intersection, Cicon said.
The MOT was involved because River Road is part of the provincial highway network.
The study found the frequency of collisions at the intersection is low, as is the frequency of severe collisions.
“The safety benefits of any implements are relatively low,” said Cicon.
Peak traffic times there occur at noon and in the evenings, and July is the top month for car volume. At these times the level of service at the intersection is at its worst.
July is also the month when the most collisions take place at the intersection, the report noted.
If the city were to take action, it could take the form of either channeling traffic with curbing; a roundabout; or the installation of a traffic light.
The cost of installing a light would be approximately $300,000.
Cicon pointed out the intersection meets just three of nine criteria the MOT uses to consider funding such improvements, meaning the city would likely be stuck with the bill.
No development has taken place in the area since the study was done and traffic counts are relatively stable. There are no plans to take action concerning the intersection, Cicon said.
As for Gertrude, Roger and Stamp, Cicon said changes have been made to reduce accidents, including the addition of a median and changes to the lanes.
He pointed out a recent intersection receiving attention in Victoria was the site of 169 crashes last year, and that Port Alberni’s total crash counts are significantly lower than in many other island communities.
