Drivers and pedestrians have made a smooth adjustment to Langley City’s very first traffic circle.
The roundabout at 203 Street and 53 Avenue is part of a $6.2 million overhaul that includes the roundabout, wider sidewalks, a bike lane and upgraded street light fixtures as well as the widening of the bridge across the Nicomekl River.
Project Manager Doug Hyde said the City has been monitoring how local drivers and pedestrians have been handling the switch away from traffic lights since the roundabout was quietly opened a few weeks ago.
“They have adjusted very nicely,” Hyde said.
“We’re actually very pleased.”
It’s a slightly bumpy ride at the moment because some of the paving and concrete work was postponed due to the weather.
Work on the 203rd Street construction project started in August.
A City update said work is on schedule, with the exception of the upgrades to the Nicomekl River Bridge.
The seismic upgrades and widening of the 40-year-old span are taking longer due to “unforeseen deficiencies that require repair,” which means the bridge will stay closed until March 2017, missing its scheduled January opening date.
The bridge is being widened by approximately 1.65 meters on both sides with new bridge supports.
The project was funded through a mix of federal, provincial and municipal money.
The estimated total value of $6.2 million includes all related expenses such as water main work, consultants’ fees and contingency funding.
The City has cited several advantages to a traffic circle over traffic lights, such as improved safety, since speeds in roundabouts are typically between 25 and 35 km/h, less air pollution with fewer vehicles idling at the intersection, and cost savings because new traffic lights won’t be needed.
The 203 Street roundabout is the first traffic circle within the boundaries of Langley City.
Langley Township already has several roundabouts: 56 Ave at 232 St., 216 St at 48 Ave. and Old Yale Rd., 216 St at 50 Ave., 201 Street at 100A Ave., 84 Ave. at 207A St. and 77A Ave. at 209 St. A roundabout at 77A Ave. at 211 St. is still under construction.
The Township is also planning to build a roundabout at 64 Ave. and 232 St., convert the existing traffic signal at Labonte Road and Glover Road to a roundabout, and add more roundabouts in Willoughby through the development process.
There are two Township traffic circles that are under provincial Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure jurisdiction; 72 Ave. at 232 St. on the north side of Highway 1, and 202 St .south of 88 Ave. leading onto Highway 1.
