City recommends changes to deadly intersection

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This article was published 02/11/2021 (1819 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After a fatal traffic collision at a provincially controlled intersection last month, the City of Brandon has developed a list of changes it wants the province to make to prevent further casualties.

During Monday’s city council meeting, Coun. Jan Chaboyer (Green Acres) asked what city administration is planning to do to make the intersection of Highway 110 and Richmond Avenue in the east end safer.

On Oct. 18, a person was killed in a collision between a semi-truck, a pickup truck and a car. After the tragedy, Chaboyer told the Sun she wants traffic lights to be installed at the intersection.

City manager Ron Bowles, delivering a response on behalf of director of engineering services Mark Allard, said residents and businesses in the area had expressed concern about “regular close calls” at the intersection even before the fatality.

Going over the history of the intersection, Bowles said it was a three-way stop when first installed in 1995 and became a four-way intersection in 1999 when Highway 110 was extended southward. Because it is a highway, it is under the jurisdiction of the provincial government.

“The city continues to work with Manitoba Infrastructure on a timely resolution and to be actively involved in their safety audit,” Bowles read from Allard’s response. “The city recommends that action of the safety audit be taken immediately by Manitoba Infrastructure.”

He also said the city wants the province to dedicate infrastructure improvement funds to make the intersection safer and to carry out the following actions: install improved rumble strips along Highway 110, improve the advance warning of stop conditions on Highway 110 and post speed reductions approaching the intersection that would reduce the speed on the highway from 100 km/h to 80 km/h and from 90 km/h to 70 km/h.

“It’s nice to see the city is taking this concern extremely [seriously],” Chaboyer said in response to Bowles’ report. “It’s important not only for the citizens of Brandon but also for the workers … from the Maple Leaf plant who have called me with concerns.

“I think what you’re recommending is something that could be implemented sooner rather than later and is a good solution, but I still hear from a lot of folks that the preference would be to totally stop traffic and put lights there. I’m hoping once this audit is done, that will be looked at in the utmost serious way.”

Bowles also delivered an update on the ongoing work to replace water mains and rebuild roads at and around the intersection of 26th Street and Willowdale Crescent. He said paving has started and the intention is to fully reopen the intersection by the end of day today. New traffic signals will be installed before work pauses for the winter.

However, there will be periodic lane closures going forward as needed.

Providing an update from the Keystone Centre board, Coun. Bruce Luebke (South Centre) said an audit of the 2020-21 fiscal year is being completed this month.

The federal Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy is close to expiring, which is a financial concern to the venue. Luebke said he believes the Keystone will qualify for an extension, but the rate at which it will cover wages is still unknown.

Another financial concern for the centre is the recent increase in the price of natural gas, which recently saw an almost doubling in price, because of the extra costs it will incur to heat such a large building. However, Luebke said natural gas currently represents only one-third of the venue’s monthly bill from Manitoba Hydro.

In preparation for the Keystone Centre’s annual general meeting, happening Jan. 13, 2022, the board of directors is looking to appoint two new at-large directors.

Those interested should reach out either to Luebke or venue general manager Jeff Schumacher.

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