Two east Saint John intersections notorious for motor vehicle collisions are getting some major upgrades.
Traffic lights will be installed at the intersection of Rothesay Avenue and Rothesay Road and the intersection of Rothesay Avenue and the Route 1 westbound exit ramp.
The work is welcome news for many, including one of the two city councillors who represent the area.
Coun. Ray Strowbridge said the intersection is unsafe and has been the site of many collisions over the years.
“You’re fighting for your life trying to get through there whenever you can punch a hole through the traffic,” said Strowbridge.
“It’s really challenging for the people that are waiting underneath the train bridge to get out onto the highway or onto the Rothesay Road.”
Traffic lights will finally be installed at this very busy intersection! #Ward4 https://t.co/FUUkBq7BjX
— Ray (@raystrowbridge) August 13, 2019
Strowbridge said he has raised the issue several times during his seven years on council but was always told it is a provincial project.
“I think what may be moving this forward now is because of the talk of ‘The Crossing’ development that may take place there as well as the overpass that the province talked about going over the highway from Ashburn Road,” he said.
Horizon Management Ltd. plans to develop a 72-hectare property bounded by Ashburn Lake Road and the Route 1 throughway.
The development would include highway services, business and commercial properties, community services stores, and a residential area.
In June of 2018, the previous Liberal government announced plans for a new interchange connecting Ashburn Lake Road and Foster Thurston Drive to support the development.
They also said new traffic lights would be installed at the intersection of Rothesay Avenue and Rothesay Road.
DTI wishes to advise the travelling public that construction activities on Route 100/Rothesay Road will require a full closure from Saturday, Aug. 17 until Sunday, Sept. 8.
This closure is necessary to safely reconfigure the intersection and detour signage will be in place. pic.twitter.com/lgbaBV3tgx— Government of NB (@Gov_NB) August 12, 2019
Strowbridge said the upgrades will improve safety and traffic flow, and drop the stress levels of drivers.
“I’ve been told by our own city staff that the actual configuration is not changing much but they’re going to be adding traffic islands and traffic lights and there’s going to be an allowance for a future pedestrian sidewalk,” he said.
City staff looked at installing a traffic circle instead of lights but found it was not a viable solution, said Strowbridge.
As part of the work, Rothesay Avenue will be closed at the railway overpass from Aug. 17 to Sept. 8.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story indicated traffic lights would only be installed at the intersection of Rothesay Avenue and Rothesay Road.
