Delta city council received public feedback on the revised design of 72nd Avenue road improvements between the Burlington Northern Santa Fe overpass and 120 Street (Scott Road) at their regular meeting on June 24.
The proposed four-laning of 72nd Avenue aims to reduce both traffic congestion and the number of motorists cutting through residential neighbourhoods.
According to the engineering report submitted to council, the public information meeting on May 23 was attended by 56 residents who indicated overall support for the overpass.
However, some property owners along the road still had concerns related to driveway accessibility.
READ MORE: Delta looking at major changes along 72nd Avenue
Coun. Lois Jackson said looking at 72nd Avenue improvements is a good thing, but expressed concern about how increasing traffic volumes will impact liveability in North Delta in the future.
“The majority of people think this is a really good idea, it’ll take more traffic, it’ll keep the traffic moving,” Jackson said.
“Yes it will do those things, but history tells us that when you widen a road it will fill up.
“I’m very concerned about the North Delta area, more so even than Ladner and Tsawwassen, because they don’t have the traffic coming through like we do.”
Jackson went on to lament “bumper-to-bumper” traffic on Scott Road, which she said is starting to bleed over onto 116th Street.
“Many, many of the side streets that used to be conveniently located, people can’t turn left out of these streets anymore,” she said.
Mayor George Harvie said the key will be to get people out of their cars.
“We need to get the people to the B-Lines,” he said. “We go to meetings with TransLink and I need council’s support when TransLink’s in front of us, for all members of council to say, ‘It’s our time now.'”
READ MORE: Fraser Highway B-Line to start in 2019
Coun. Jeannie Kanakos asked about adding an HOV lane on Highway 91, and Coun. Dylan Kruger further suggested looking at bus-only lanes and better access to cycling.
Coun. Bruce McDonald also reminded his fellow council members that the traffic situation is not all doom and gloom.
He said more people are commuting to work by bike, more offices are locating outside of city centres and millennials are more willing to live without a personal vehicle.
“People are getting the message,” McDonald said.
However, Kruger said, “the investment just has to keep up.”
READ MORE: Driver caught trying to sneak into HOV lane with mannequin
A preliminary design concept for the 72nd Avenue Roadway Improvements Project was first presented to the public in February 2018.
The original design was revised based on resident feedback to include: the addition of dual southbound right turn lanes at 112 Street and 116 Street to reduce queue lengths and congestion; the addition of hatch marks at York Place and Blake Drive to improve access from side streets; a new traffic signal at 113 Street to improve safety and accessibility at Heath Elementary; and a confirmation that curb lanes are to be used for on-street parking during off-peak hours.
Construction of the project is anticipated to begin next year.
The project costs will be confirmed during the detailed design phase and discussed at the business plan workshop this fall.
READ MORE: VIDEO — New overpass at 72nd Avenue now open to traffic
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