Carberry intersection options get mixed reviews

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This article was published 12/01/2024 (625 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Stakeholders are weighing in on the Manitoba government’s recent announcement that it will spend $12 million for safety improvements at the Carberry crash intersection, with some calling for more options to be considered.

Announced Monday at a press conference in Dauphin, the government’s initiative comes in the wake of safety concerns following the collision last June in which 17 Dauphin-area seniors died. A report prepared by WSP Canada Inc. presented three potential intersection improvement options.

Those options include the construction of a roundabout, widening the median at the intersection, or implementing a new Restricted Crossing U-Turn (RCUT) design, a widely used concept in the U.S. that directs drivers to turn onto a main road and make a U-turn at a one-way median.

Professional Transport Driver Training School general manager Ryan Kyle expressed skepticism about all three of the options. He said the most effective solution would be to build an overpass, citing the inadequacy of roundabouts for accommodating large volumes of truck traffic.

Drawing from 30 years of experience driving on the highway, Kyle emphasized the severity of the corner, recounting a near-miss he experienced the day after last June’s fatal accident.

“Building these roundabouts is pointless due to the potential duplication of costs for both sides of the highway,” he said. “The roundabout at Portage la Prairie on the west side during the bridge reconstruction was chaotic. Designed with cars in mind, it was ill-suited for the needs of trucks, as any truck driver will attest.”

He suggested options like having the traffic for Highway 5 go under the Trans-Canada Highway or vice versa, emphasizing the importance of choosing the more cost-effective option.

“They’re discussing the prospect of installing lights or expanding the service roads, along with other potential solutions,” he said. “The severity of the issue is acknowledged and the emphasis should shift from hastily implementing solutions like adding lights. Why entertain the idea of putting up lights on Highway 1 when we’re well aware of the existing problem?”

In Monday’s announcement, provincial officials said an interchange or overpass was seen as a potential long-term solution with a 20-year-plus timeline and a cost estimate of around $100 million.

Kyle criticized the government’s inclination toward studies, urging a common-sense approach.

The province has announced its intention to engage stakeholders in the trucking and agriculture industries. However, Kyle questioned the effectiveness of such engagement, stressing the importance of involving actual individuals like truck drivers who navigate these routes regularly rather than solely financial stakeholders.

The Manitoba Trucking Association said road safety stands as the utmost priority for its members.

“We will support the Province of Manitoba in implementing improved safety measures at this, and all at-grade intersections in Manitoba,” spokesperson Susan Green said. “We look forward to learning more about the specifics of these proposed designs to ensure they meet the needs of the trucking industry.”

JasV, an employee of Robin’s Nest Motel, which is located close to the accident site, said the general sentiment in the community leans toward advocating for enhanced visibility, with various ideas such as the installation of traffic lights, roundabouts and widening the road.

“Installing traffic lights could be quite beneficial because this intersection is one of the busiest in the entire area and region,” he said. “Having visibility from a distance would enhance safety and make people feel more secure.”

Widening the road, he said, could be a viable solution, but the timeline for construction is uncertain, as these projects often take a considerable amount of time. He also advocated for maintaining the existing infrastructure while widening the road, believing it would create more opportunities for increased traffic and improved safety measures.

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