Quote:
Originally Posted by gowest
One of the big problems with most new areas is the lack of proper roadways to get traffic into and out of the area as well as no major feeders streets. Stonebridge is an example, there are two main routes in. Then add the road from the traffic circle east of Home Depot that runs to the east. It is almost single lane when vehicles are parked on both sides of the street. New bridges will help once you are able to get to them. Adding more and more areas on the east side will just increase the problems. More development to the west and northwest would certainly reduce bridge congestion. The land being developed east is no different from all the un-developed land to the west. As the east continues to develop are the sewer and water services located on the west riverbank going to have to be increased at a far greater cost of going across the river. Some people will say they have development going to the west with Hampton and Kensington but Hampton is just about done and Kensington is no way as big as any east developement. New developments on both sides of the river have the same type of structures and people for the most part. I thought for awhile there was a difference but driving around Evergreen and Hampton recently I didn't notice a lot of difference. I don't think if I worked downtown or the north industrial area I would want to live to the east unless transit services make a huge improvement.
|
Stonebridge has two arterial roads that connect to freeway with already built interchanges. Thus far the main reason for congestion has simply been construction. Yes it is busy, that is the way it has been designed, to make the most use of the roads. And as the development infills there is also futre provisions to connect to HWY11.
Kensington is as large as Evergreen and Aspen ridge combined. The amount of land slated for future neighborhoods in the West sector plan (blairmore) is larger then the Holmwood sector plan on the east. Water and sewer construction for both of these sections has already been undertaken with much more to come (Sanitary force main to serve the West side, which was the biggest barrier to growth since the lay of the land prevented gravity system to bring sewage to the treatment plat) and major storm and sanitary trunks being installed as we speak at both ends of McOrmond.
As someone who takes transit to work downtown often, and recently moved from the West side to the east, I agree that the bus ride was much shorter and easier on the west side.
My main point, is that the river is not the only factor when it comes to determining which direction the city grows. And as for roadways design, I think the biggest problem is when transportation planners aren't allowed to do their thing, they could design a great system, but their designs are subject to input from Council, the Land branch, private developers with their own ideas, etc. For instance, McOrmond Drive was designed to be a major arterial roadway, but when they build the north bridge it will be used as a freeway (until a perimeter bridge is built by the province, assuming that happens in the next decade), meanwhile it will be snaking through the new neighbourhoods and will have many signalized intersections - I can easily foresee congestion on it just as bad as Attridge by the time those neighborhoods are built.
Prev
Linear Mode
