Canmore commuters who regularly use the intersection of Benchlands Trail and Elk Run Boulevard should prepare themselves for major road construction in the near future.
Town of Canmore crews are ready to mobilize construction at that intersection, according to manager of engineering Andy Esarte.
Esarte said improvements to the intersection have been part of the Town’s capital plan for several years to create a safer roadway for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.
Council voted earlier this year to approve a roundabout as the intersection design style, as opposed to a three-way stop that was previously considered.
“It is going to be a significant improvement to the pedestrian and cyclist realm and will improve traffic flow,” Esarte said. “It will generally improve the esthethic and slow down speeds as well.”
Some of the issues that currently exist at the intersection include traffic queuing, speeding up or down Benchlands and pedestrian safety – especially as a school route. These are meant to be addressed by the new intersection, according to Esarte.
The roundabout is not the only major construction project on the books or underway this summer for the municipality. The engine bridge has already been closed for a number of weeks for improvements to its abutments, said Esarte.
The rehabilitation project, he added, was delayed as yellow cedar chosen to replicate the original design of the wooden support to the bridge deck was late arriving.
“Sourcing wood took longer than anticipated,” he said. “We have now completed the majority of the work.”
However, Esarte said final construction work still has to be done and another closure of the bridge after the long weekend is expected, but should be brief.
The Town is also preparing to begin work on the Cougar Creek channel at the culverts of the Trans-Canada Highway and Highway 1A, or Bow Valley Trail.
That work is part of the town’s long term strategy to address flood mitigation for Cougar Creek and is intended to improve the culverts to prevent them from clogging with debris.
“There won’t be any major traffic impacts,” Esarte said. “But there will be ongoing construction around those two culverts.”
The municipality is working on its sign replacement program as well, with bases of wayfinding signs being installed throughout town. Esarte said there are 28 existing signs that are to be replaced this year.
