[Moncton] Northwest/Magnetic Hill Developments - Page 135

MonctonRad · #**2681** Posted **Nov 22, 2023, 2:53 PM**

As for outbound traffic on Berry Mills, they desperately need to add a new outbound lane from Wheeler Blvd to Horsman. This would loosen the plug on the bottle, and give Berry Mills Road increased storage capacity for idling traffic waiting at the signalized Berry Mills/Edinburgh intersection.

The actual interchange at Berry Mills/Wheeler is a tough nut to crack because of the adjacent CNR spur line immediately adjacent to the road. I agree however that the on ramps could be made more efficient (probably by signalization).

MonctonRad · #**2682** Posted **Nov 22, 2023, 3:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Eventually, the MID West Industrial Park will be connected directly through to the main MID Park. This is not pie-in-the-sky. The plans are there, and Horsman Rd will be connected through to DeLong Drive. They are planning to build an overpass for Horsman Rd across the CNR mainline. I believe the work may begin next year. They have actually secured a couple of large tenants for the lands that will be opened up by the industrial park expansion.

By completing Horsman through to DeLong, this could have the effect of decompressing inbound traffic on Berry Mills Road. This would be a secondary benefit from the industrial park expansion, but, since this is not the intended result, would not be enough. DeLong remains a two lane road, and, connects fairly awkwardly through to Edinburgh Drive.

If the city and province wants to deal with the problem more seriously, then Horsman should be extended further south and connect with St. George Blvd.

Here is a planning document showing what the footprint of the industrial park expansion would look like:

MonctonRad · #**2683** Posted **Nov 22, 2023, 3:49 PM**

And here is my fanciful representation of what an extension of Horsman Road right through to Salisbury Road could look like:

This follows the existing plan for the extension of Horsman through to DeLong, but continues it southwards. By doing this sort of extension, traffic to the NW end could be decompressed by several routes (Berry Mills, DeLong, St. George & Salisbury Rd), thus decreasing the congestion on Berry Mills alone.

Would this be expensive? Absolutely!! And, there is a major question over how Horsman could be extended with the CNR Hump Yard in the way, but, I'm sure an alignment could be found to minimize the expense, and, failing this, an overpass over the narrowest part of the hump yard could be built.

In any event, the city is growing, and at some point, a new north-south route to the west of Wheeler Blvd will have to be built to facilitate further growth. Such a new corridor would function very much like Dieppe Blvd in Dieppe. That new arterial has proven to be a tremendous growth generator for that city. It is time for Moncton to consider something like this in the west end of our city.......

adamuptownsj · #**2684** Posted **Nov 22, 2023, 4:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

As for outbound traffic on Berry Mills, they desperately need to add a new outbound lane from Wheeler Blvd to Horsman. This would loosen the plug on the bottle, and give Berry Mills Road increased storage capacity for idling traffic waiting at the signalized Berry Mills/Edinburgh intersection.

The actual interchange at Berry Mills/Wheeler is a tough nut to crack because of the adjacent CNR spur line immediately adjacent to the road. I agree however that the on ramps could be made more efficient (probably by signalization).

Could Berry Mills be twinned and divided/given controlled access between Wheeler and the TCH? You might need a roundabout or two that trucks leaving the industrial park could handle. Maybe a service road on the north side.

MonctonRad · #**2685** Posted **Nov 22, 2023, 4:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamuptownsj

Could Berry Mills be twinned and divided/given controlled access between Wheeler and the TCH? You might need a roundabout or two that trucks leaving the industrial park could handle. Maybe a service road on the north side.

There's lots of room to divide Berry Mills Rd between Wheeler and the TCH. Perhaps not a full limited access throughway, but at least a boulevard with a wide median and signalized intersections and no private driveway access.

josh_cat_eyes · #**2686** Posted **Nov 22, 2023, 5:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

There's lots of room to divide Berry Mills Rd between Wheeler and the TCH. Perhaps not a full limited access throughway, but at least a boulevard with a wide median and signalized intersections and no private driveway access.

On of the biggest hurdles is the giant steel power transmission towers immediately next to Berry Mills road at the intersection of Edinburgh. These would have to be moved to facilitate a widening of this road.

Another option would be to extend Hildegarde south, add south bound exit ramp from Wheeler, set aside room for a north end high school, and have the road go around Westbrook circle and connect at a reconfigured intersection of Killiam, Berry Mills, the existing highway ramps and Bingham dr.

I’ll try to make a mock-up of this when I get home later.

josh_cat_eyes · #**2687** Posted **Nov 22, 2023, 10:32 PM**

Just made a little mock-up of a the area west of wheeler and some changes that could be made on Killiam/Berry Mills Road where it connects with wheeler.

MonctonRad · #**2688** Posted **Nov 22, 2023, 11:26 PM**

lirette · #**2689** Posted **Nov 23, 2023, 2:07 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philbilly

Just general convo:

I live off killiam dr and every day in rush hour , traffic is back up from home hardware to berry mills shel gas station. People can’t even exist the off-ramp (wheeler) with out risking an accident.

With new apartment being built off millennium blv . I think the city need in the near future figure something out,this is only going to get worse

Certainly we need some infrastructure improvements to accommodate the growth, but we also desperately deserve better public transit. Apparently ridership is way up and most busses are now full, but there isn't any additional lines being added into the plans at the moment. We have many people who have moved here from cities where they are used to using transit, nows as good as time as any to expand the services.

Hogie75 · #**2690** Posted **Nov 23, 2023, 1:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by josh_cat_eyes

Just made a little mock-up of a the area west of wheeler and some changes that could be made on Killiam/Berry Mills Road where it connects with wheeler.

Wow I really like that idea. Best proposal yet, but maybe there is some way to use the government land next to the coliseum and the killam drive section of worthington to make and off ramp coming from Riverview? And maybe relocating some if not all of the government buildings elseware?

MonctonRad · #**2691** Posted **Nov 23, 2023, 2:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hogie75

Wow I really like that idea. Best proposal yet, but maybe there is some way to use the government land next to the coliseum and the killam drive section of worthington to make and off ramp coming from Riverview? And maybe relocating some if not all of the government buildings elseware?

City hall has an active plan to completely redesign and modernize their public works depot here. I doubt that they would agree with your assessment (no matter how worthy).

Hogie75 · #**2692** Posted **Nov 24, 2023, 2:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

City hall has an active plan to completely redesign and modernize their public works depot here. I doubt that they would agree with your assessment (no matter how worthy).

Not to mention why would they build a new high school in the middle of the city? I’m expecting the next one to be in Rogersville. Lol

MonctonRad · #**2693** Posted **Dec 6, 2023, 4:29 AM**

Pioneer Estates Winery has a little expansion planned:

Quote:

Council voted in favour of proceeding with a rezoning request on Whitfield Trites Road, near Magnetic Hill, to allow for retail and entertainment uses at the Pioneer Estate Winery. The owner already grows grapes and produces wine at the site and is asking for a rezoning to tourism and recreational, which would allow wine tastings, wine sales and events like weddings and corporate parties. A public hearing is scheduled for Feb. 5.

This will make three closely adjacent wineries in the northwest end of the city with event spaces, wine tastings and/or retail spaces.

MonctonRad · #**2694** Posted **Dec 7, 2023, 12:55 AM**

People are moving into the first of the Franklin Yards apartment buildings. There were two moving trucks unloading today as I drove past.......

MonctonRad · #**2695** Posted **Dec 18, 2023, 12:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

It appears they are doing site prep for this building already.

There is now a mini tower crane on site for this project.

MonctonRad · #**2696** Posted **Dec 19, 2023, 12:48 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Pioneer Estates Winery has a little expansion planned:

This will make three closely adjacent wineries in the northwest end of the city with event spaces, wine tastings and/or retail spaces.

This is what Pioneer Estates Winery has in mind for their winery off of Whitfield Trites Road.

T&T photo

Photo1 · #**2697** Posted **Dec 19, 2023, 6:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

This is what Pioneer Estates Winery has in mind for their winery off of Whitfield Trites Road.

I had no idea Pioneer even existed?

MonctonRad · #**2698** Posted **Dec 27, 2023, 3:28 PM**

Recently posted by mmmatt over at Retail Talk & Share:

Quote:

Moncton: The Magnetic Hill Zoo has surpassed 200,000 visitors in a single year, their highest attendance EVER! Attendance has been growing steadily over the last decade (besides 2020 and 2021) and is projected to continue growing with more investment including a penguin enclosure on the horizon!

According to a recent post by the zoo showing their growth in guests they have now doubled since hitting 100,000 in 2007:

2007 100,000 guests.
2013 130,918 guests.
2018 175,574 guests.
2022 199,727 guests.
2023 over 200,000!

The Magnetic Hill Zoo is one of the top three attractions in NB.

drewber · #**2699** Posted **Dec 28, 2023, 12:24 AM**

It appears Off the Wall Eye Emporium has closed its doors. The storefront is empty, Facebook, Instagram and their website are all gone. Seems to be unexpected as folks state they still have eyewear in for repair they haven't gotten back. Voicemail says staff came down with covid but that may be an older message

josh_cat_eyes · #**2700** Posted **Dec 28, 2023, 4:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Recently posted by mmmatt over at Retail Talk & Share:

The Magnetic Hill Zoo is one of the top three attractions in NB.

What’s the other two? Fundy Park & Hopewell Rocks?