399 replies to this topic

[rjag]

Ever seen traffic lights at a roundabout?

yup.

Seen loads of them in the UK and France. Driven on a few 3 lane roundabouts which are quite exciting, but seem to work well. What I did observe was roundabouts seem to work great in areas with few traffic signals around them. i.e. if there is a traffic light 300 yards further on a main road such as what we have with Blanshard then the congestion just moves further along.

But you either love them or hate them. Personally I think they are great. I think its one of these situations where if you have them then you need to have lots so that they become effective.

[Bernard]

I think the design of the ones at MacTavish are destined for failure if traffic ever increases. The roundabouts are small and really single laned. The craziest part is for anyone wanting to go north on #17 from the Airport, they need go half around the first roundabout and then 80% around the second one.

The roundabouts allow very little space for traffic in the circle which means the entrances will be easily blocked and a lot of people will be waiting.

[Mike K.]

I've already experienced congestion at the roundabout. Go out there when traffic is heading out of the airport, traffic is heading to the airport, and it's rush hour with more vehicles generally crossing the interchange and you'll see a little bit of mayhem.

No doubt it'll get worse as the immediate area develops and YYJ's flights increase.

[ZGsta]

I drive over it every day at both rush hours. Believe me, it's nothing compared to the traffic back ups that were there before they built it.

[phx]

Ever seen traffic lights at a roundabout?

No, I haven't. Wouldn't traffic lights defeat the purpose?

[LJ]

Why was the overpass at Helmcken built, was there a big traffic tie up there, more so than Mckenzie?

There never seems to be any traffic on it when I go over it.

[sebberry]

I'm guessing that hospital access was a consideration for the Helmcken overpass.

[snaptee]

I guess you guys never did that commute prior to the early 90s. It was pretty bad, worse than what we see today although it won't be long now.

[Sparky]

Why was the overpass at Helmcken built, was there a big traffic tie up there, more so than Mckenzie?

One lane each way on the Trans Canada, one lane each way on Helmcken. Combine this with a stoplight and it was getting to be a mess.

Helmcken was a main north south artery between the Old Island Highway serving View Royal and Colwood and connecting these areas with the Saanich Penninsula. (There seems to be more options now to accomplish this....McKenzie is one.)

The growth that has taken place in Langford has opened up more options as well. In other words if you were heading to Sooke years ago, you travelled through Colwood. Now you can use Spencer / Jacklin as well as Memorial.

This eases up the current day traffic on Helmcken as well.

[Mike K.]

Yikes, heading out towards the westshore from any point in Saanich is getty nasty nowadays. It's not uncommon for congestion on Helmcken to stretch between the TC and West Saanich Road.

[Bernard]

Yikes, heading out towards the westshore from any point in Saanich is getty nasty nowadays. It's not uncommon for congestion on Helmcken to stretch between the TC and West Saanich Road.

Honestly Helmcken/Wilkinson should be a four lane road, not two lane. Honestly we need to have more of our arterial roads be four lane - Interurban, Craigflower, and Admirals are the other ones that come to mind

[LJ]

^I agree, but Frank Leonard has stated specifically that they will not make any improvments to Wilkinson as they don't want to encourage more traffic to utilize it.

[Bernard]

^I agree, but Frank Leonard has stated specifically that they will not make any improvments to Wilkinson as they don't want to encourage more traffic to utilize it.

I know - another example of small thinking on the part of a local municipality

[LJ]

One lane each way on the Trans Canada, one lane each way on Helmcken. Combine this with a stoplight and it was getting to be a mess.

.

Oh, that does sound ugly. If I use Wilkinson road now it is clogged during rush hours until you get close to the hospital then it dissipates into nothing.

It seems a little overbuilt as you are heading southbond toward TCH, four lanes of traffic and basically at least two are always empty. Then once you cross over and continue southbound it squeezes down to one lane.
Don't know if that is a problem at rush hour or not.

Last night we were going to Oak Bay at about 6pm. The traffic westbound on the TCH was lined up from Mackenzie back to Uptown. And here was an ambulance rushing through the traffic at about 3-5mph. If hospital access was a factor in building Helmcken overpass you would think the same consideration would be given to Mckenzie. I wouldn't want to have been the patient in the ambulance trying to get to the hospital.

[phx]

^I agree, but Frank Leonard has stated specifically that they will not make any improvments to Wilkinson as they don't want to encourage more traffic to utilize it.

There isn't a lot you can do within the existing right-of-way on Wilkinson.
It would be much easier to upgrade McKenzie.

[stormy]

I go Carey...Marigold....Burnside, then zip down by the hospital to hook up with the highway again. Can't stand sitting in that highway traffic.

[Coreyburger]

There isn't a lot you can do within the existing right-of-way on Wilkinson.
It would be much easier to upgrade McKenzie.

"Upgrade" is very subjective. What value of upgrade do you suggest? I think you mean widen to allow more motor vehicle traffic, which doesn't fit my definition of upgrade.

[phx]

What value of upgrade do you suggest?

Does it matter? I expect you'll continue with your dogma regardless.

[UrbanRail]

Upgrading Mckenzie Ave is a bit tricky, as there are many residences, appartments and commerical properties along its corridor. You can't add lanes, as there is no room.

[UrbanRail]

^I agree, but Frank Leonard has stated specifically that they will not make any improvments to Wilkinson as they don't want to encourage more traffic to utilize it.

I actually agree with him on that.