MEDIA RELEASE: Second Avenue Reconstruction Review

Media Release:       March 21st 2014                                                     

Considerable cost savings plus bike lanes possible

Minnow Lake CAN calls for Second Avenue Reconstruction Review – Councillor asked to present motion to city council

Citing unnecessary costly design factors and lack of consideration for cyclists, the Minnow Lake Community Action network is calling on the head of the city finance committee and area councillor Terry Kett to ask city council to direct the traffic dept to go back to the drawing board with respect to proposed Second Avenue reconstruction.

Significant cost savings could be realized by eliminating two of the proposed five traffic lanes.  All that is needed on this secondary artery, according to CAN chair John Lindsay, are traffic two lanes, one in each direction with a centre turning lane for a total of three lanes.  This design would also allow for bike lanes in each direction and would be safer for pedestrians as well.  Eventually the whole length of Second Avenue could be built to this configuration providing for both motorists, pedestrians and cyclists in this heavily residential area. The cost in savings by the suggested redesign could be applied to extending the length of the proposed reconstruction to help achieve this objective.

It is felt that by having council direct the traffic dept. to prepare this alternative proposal as soon as possible for consideration, the project could still get underway during this construction season.  A description of the proposed change is attached and is also available with other related cycling information at www.minnowlake.ca.