Ottawa St. Traffic Issues
Posted Nov 24, 2010 05:33:33 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Waterloo Region Planners have unveiled what they hope will be the ultimate solution to the ongoing and serious traffic problems on Ottawa St. in Kitchener, around Homer Watson Blvd.
The planners say traffic tie-ups along Ottawa at Homer Watson and Alpine will be alleviated with a pair of 3-lane roundabouts.
According to the Region’s staff the placement of the massive twin roundabouts and an addition of a second eastbound on-ramp for Highway 7/8 will reduce collisions, improve traffic flow and more importantly, be safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
The Region of Waterloo 2009 Collision Report shows that the intersection of Ottawa Street at Homer Watson Boulevard was the worst, in terms of accidents over the past 5 years, in the region.
A public meeting on the $5.5 million plan was held at regional council chambers on Tuesday night, where staff heard both the good and bad about the proposal.
Regional Councillor Tom Galloway tells 570 News the Ministry of Transportation is now OK with the extra on-ramp, they just need to see the Region’s completed environmental assessment first. He says the MTO would let the Region build, and pay for, the conversion of the 7-8 Eastbound on-ramp from Homer Watson to Alpine. Galloway adds however, he’s still not totally convinced by the back-to-back roundabouts idea, and he wants to hear what the public has to say.
Overall though, Galloway states he’s very pleased to see something done for the crash-prone area of Ottawa Street.
The plan could be approved by council early next year, but getting the site prepped and land acquisitions might see construction delayed until about 2015.
