Roundabout work set to begin in July

Work will begin on major Charlottetown roundabout in July

The City of Charlottetown has acquired the final piece of land it needs to proceed with a major roundabout project this summer.

Work is expected to begin in July on the intersection that connects Belvedere Avenue with St. Peters Road and Brackley Point Road.

On May 9, city council voted unanimously to pay Cape d’or Holdings Ltd., the company that owns the Esso gas station on the corner of the intersection, $340,000 for a piece of land required to make the project possible.

The roundabout is estimated to cost the city up to $6 million, although the corporation will be submitting an application under the federal gas tax program to help foot some of the bill.

Scott Adams, manager of public works for the city, said one bid on the project was received and is being reviewed and should be going to council for a vote no later than the June 13 public meeting of council.

“This (project) is going to be unique in terms of the fact it is a five-legged (intersection),’’ Adams told Saltwire Network on May 17.

“That’s why it was recommended for a roundabout because roundabouts can accommodate those unusual configurations, which is a great feature for this type of intersection control.’’

Adams said the work will be done in phases, adding that the bidder has been advised that the intersection must remain open to traffic.

Coun. Terry Macleod, chair of the public works committee, said he’s glad to see the project finally getting off the ground.

Various councils been talking about this roundabout since 2010 and, for the past few months, negotiations dragged on between the city and Cape d’or Holdings Ltd. over a small section of land on the gas station property that was needed.

“The property acquisition was a big obstacle,’’ Macleod said, adding that the roundabout should make things safer for both motorists and pedestrians.

“There have been many near-accidents at crosswalks, etc.’’

While the roundabout will have pedestrian crosswalks, it won’t have cycling lanes — something one member of Bike Friendly Charlottetown said should have been a priority.

“Cycling has been my primary mode of transportation in Charlottetown for about seven years,’’ said Isaac Williams.

“During that time, I have experienced close calls with vehicles in roundabouts at Belvedere by the Farmers’ Market and Brackley Point Road at the Charlottetown Airport entrance. Biking through a roundabout requires the same level of attention as driving a vehicle but with the added difficulty of providing your own motor power and the added danger of being completely exposed and unprotected in the event of a collision.’’

Adams said there is no design standard for cycling in a roundabout.

“We would love to have accommodated it but there is just no safe way to do it,’’ Adams said.

The public works manager said in rural areas where there is ample room, a cycling lane can be constructed around the roundabout but in the city the land to do that isn’t available.

He said cyclists have two options — travel in the vehicle lane or dismount and use the pedestrian crosswalks.

This roundabout will not have overhead flashing lights to signal to motorists someone is using the crosswalk but it will feature rapid flashing rectangular beacons, strobe lights that can be activated by pedestrians.

Adams said the project is expected to wrap up sometime in the fall.