General Road and Highway Discussion

[avernar]

Thread (was telling a friend of mine from the States about some of our "quirks" here and thought I'd make a little story):

They want to keep traffic from that neighbourhood from going northbound on Wilmot Line.  I saw a diagram somewhere they were thinking of making a southbound only exit from that traffic circle but not sure how that's coming along.

That emergency exit now has an electric lift arm (solar powered) to let authorized vehicles through.  But it looks like some people have pushed their way around it as it's not exactly perpendicular anymore.

Found a google cached copy of a PDF I read on the reasoning.  Not sure if this had the diagram as it's been HTMLized: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/se...vision.pdf+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ca

Here's the relevant section:

8. The proposed subdivisions reflect the modified grid road system contemplated in the District Plans.  No vehicular access is provided to the Wilmot Line, with the exception of one emergency access.  Two collector roads serve as the primary roadways into the subdivisions.  The proposed roads meet municipal design standards, with grades ranging from 0.5% to 6.0%.  In order to minimize the need for the application of salt in the winter, road grades have been reduced to the greatest extent possible. Higher road grades (e.g. 6.0%) are necessary in some areas in order to minimize area grading and protect the till cap. As a condition of approval, the property owners will be required to finalize a traffic calming plan for the subdivisions to the satisfaction of Development Services, Public Works Services (Roads) and Protective Services.

The Wilmot Line is completely within the Township of Wilmot.  Decisions to modify the roadway are solely up to Wilmot Council.  The road functions as a boundary road, and as such the City of Waterloo cost-shares the maintenance of this road with the Township of Wilmot.  An objective of the West Side District Plan Review (2004) was to maintain the northern portion of the Wilmot Line as a rural gravel roadway.  To facilitate this objective, the Columbia Street I Wilmot Line intersection will be designed to restrict turning movements so that the subdivisions will not contribute to traffic on the northern portion of Wilmot Line.

The portion of the Wilmot Line south of the subdivisions will be upgraded to accommodate increased traffic volumes.  A Class Environmental Assessment (EA) is underway for this portion of the Wilmot Line as well as the intersection at Erb Street.  The subdivisions have been designed to accommodate emergency response vehicles and Grand River Transit.