Speed limit to be reduced near Wheatland Crossing School

Sharon McLeay
Times Contributor

 

The intersection at the new Wheatland Crossing School south of Standard will see a decrease in speed limit.
Wheatland Crossing School is located at the intersection of Hwy 561 and Hwy 840.
The speed limit on Hwy 561 will be reduced to 80 km/hr, within 250 metres from the intersection. The new speed limit takes effect once the school is operational. Pavement markings will be applied in spring.
The intersection currently consists of a two-way stop sign, on the north-south approaches on Hwy 840. That will not change.
According to Ralph Rolston, operations engineer for the southern region of Alberta Transportation (AT), which conducted traffic assessments, other improvements are not necessary at the intersection at this time.
He noted that Hwy 561 has a 1,200 vehicle average count of traffic and is split evenly, 600 going to Standard and 600 going to east. He said in his experience, with this traffic load, there will be gaps for entering the flow of traffic and motorists will wait to enter those gaps.
At the recent Wheatland County council meeting, council asked Rolston if the traffic flow took into account the numbers when the school was open. Rolston said they adjusted the 2014 study baseline, to include a 20-year forecast including the school traffic. They estimated non-bus traffic at 10 per cent and adjusted to 20 per cent for those students driving themselves or being driven by parents.
Wheatland County Coun. Brenda Knight said the roadway would cause traffic stacking. Rolston maintained that adding additional lanes is not necessarily safer, as there is more confusion for the driver and sometimes more traffic problems. He said with time, drivers will become acclimated to the parameters of the intersection.
Coun. Alice Booth suggested a roadway marking may be implemented to improve visibility.
The traffic conditions reassessment can be reviewed in the future. Council recommended that vegetation be cut for visibility. Rolston agreed that trimming could be done. Councillors also mentioned the heavy industrial truck traffic limits turning ability and visibility.
Rolston recommended placing the intersection on the reassessment list later in the year, when traffic response is more established. He said long-term planning suggests the roads will be upgraded at some point.
“Transportation is aware of it. They are keeping their eyes on it,” said Wheatland County deputy reeve Ben Armstrong. “Once it is up and running we will see what has to happen if anything.”