The Town of Bonnyville will be steering the discussion surrounding congestion issues along main street.
During peak times, drivers making left turns at the traffic lights has proven to be a cause of concern for residents.
That's one of the reasons why Coun. Rene Van Brabant wants town council to revisit the subject of restricting left turns during certain hours. Specifically, at the intersections located at 50 Ave. and 46 St. by Sobeys, and at 50 Ave. and 50 St. by Brosseau's Department Store.
"I would like to have a discussion about no turning between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., and 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.," he said during council's regular meeting on June 25.
Van Brabant brought the suggestion forward in hopes of speeding up the downtown core during busy times in the day.
"If you ever drive down main street during lunch hour or after work, people making left hand turns are slowing down traffic immensely," he stressed. "If we have no left turns between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., and 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., for example, it will speed up the traffic."
Any changes made need to first be approved by Alberta Transportation, because although 50 Ave. is considered Bonnyville's main street, it's still part of Hwy. 28.
"If you're going to do no permitted left turns, that would be something the province would need to sign off on, and I really can't see them doing that," noted Mayor Gene Sobolewski.
According to Van Brabant, the town submitted an application to the provincial government to make main street a three-lane road around seven years ago, and haven't received a response.
"I'm the one that brought up the centre lane and nothing's happening, so maybe if we change it around a little bit, we'll get no left turns," Van Brabant stated.
Sobolewski said, "This has been an ongoing issue for almost 20 years."
The province previously conducted a report on Bonnyville's intersections, turns, and the timing of traffic lights. According to Sobolewski, they haven't released the results, and the documents are in the town's and province's files "collecting dust."
He continued, "It's a provincial highway, and the problem with it is they never seem to find any money."
Over the years, Van Brabant has heard a number of complaints regarding congestion on 50 Ave., similar to what he's noticed personally.
"When I go home, I turn on 46 St., and then turn left on 49 Ave., because it's much quicker and I'm not waiting for all the people to turn left. Even at Sobeys, even if you do make it through the lights, people turning left at Sobeys are holding up the traffic as well," he said.
Council agreed to bring the topic back to the table for further discussion at a later date.
