The new McTavish Road Interchage may be a designer’s dream but it will be a driver’s nightmare.
Who in their right mind would design or accept an interchange that requires the driver to negotiate three roundabouts and seven intersections (eastbound on McTavish heading to Sidney northbound on Lochside Drive — replacing a single traffic light and one stop sign); or three roundabouts and nine intersections to return by the reverse route to McTavish westbound; or two roundabouts and seven intersections (from Highway 17 northbound to Canora (airport) Road — replacing a traffic-light controlled left turn and an immediate right turn). Surely this design mocks every rule of safe highway design.
The only thing forgotten in this design is the on-site offices for the RCMP and ICBC with the attendant garages for ambulances and tow trucks to deal with the multitude of accidents waiting to happen. Don’t come crying in future years when they rip out this construction and build something more conventional.
What ever happened to the staff team of highway designers who provided us with so many workable interchange designs elsewhere throughout the province. Perhaps the designer of this project should have taken advice from these old pros, and (as a failed proctologist) much less guidance from the view up the sphincter.
Donald MacSween
Central Saanich
