In the end, the closure of Villeneuve Road looks more like a minor detour.
Council’s decision to realign and cut off access from Ray Gibbon Drive will see the closure of a portion of the road from Ray Gibbon to Hogan Road and would cut off the direct connection between the two major highways in the area. A connection to Fowler Drive will be established with a roundabout.
The realignment was necessary to accommodate additional traffic as development continues in the northwest quadrant of the city, given that the intersection on St. Albert Trail is already experiencing major congestion.
It also addresses safety and noise concerns raised by residents.
The changes would not only ban trucks, but make it unattractive for them to travel on Villeneuve Road with the implementation of traffic calming measures, such as raised pedestrian crossings, mid-block medians, roundabouts and chicanes or curb extensions that alternate from one side of the street to another.
Lisa Arrowsmith, a Deer Ridge resident, said she was pleased with council’s decision, noting the approved plan took into consideration residents’ feedback and would help deter heavy traffic away from Villeneuve Road by providing an alternate access to St. Albert Trail.
“My only concern though is timeline. It’s all going to be far, far in the future. Villeneuve Road is dangerous now. Things need to be done to improve safety in the immediate future – not in 10 years, not in five years, but in the next one to two years,” she said.
In her speech to council, Arrowsmith raised concerns about the lack of safety structures, such as sidewalks, multiuse trails and proper lighting, on the former county road. She implored council to use any tool at its disposal to make Villeneuve Road safer for motorists, children and residents.
Coun. Cathy Heron indicated that she would be looking to implement some of the recommended speed control measures found in the report prior to the completion of the realignment project.
Margaret Carrol, another Deer Ridge resident who spoke against the full or partial closure of Villeneuve Road, said she was concerned about the effects this plan could have on Deer Ridge Road.
Carrol told council that shortcutting is already a big problem since there are no lights on the street and that it poses a great safety concern given that two schools are located in the area.
“I’m still against it because I feel that with the little detour they added in, people are just going to zip around on Deer Ridge Drive to avoid everything,” she said following the public hearing.
Erin Ridge resident Murray Lambert commended council for not repeating mistakes of the past. He said the closure of Coalmine Road, another annexed county road, has proven disastrous – morphing Erin Ridge Drive into an arterial thoroughfare complete with rush-hour gridlock.
Administration was commended by council for the public consultation efforts, which ultimately led to the option before council on Monday.
Heron pointed out the fact the fewer people showed up to speak out against the road realignment indicated that the city had reached an acceptable solution in the eyes of the public.
