The intersection capacity analysis completed for this intersection did not identify capacity conditions. However, Bunt & Associates noted several other issues in need of attention at this location, as follows:
· The service road intersections on the west side of the intersection are awkward and problematic, particularly when large trucks manoeuvre through the intersection.
· The Wolf Creek Drive leg of the intersection is the northeast truck by-pass route for the Town, and trucks exiting Wolf Creek Drive at this location often block the railway crossing when awaiting a gap at the intersection.
As a result of these issues (in particular the railway blockage) it is recommended that this intersection be signalized as part of the short term improvement program. This signalization will remove the need for trucks to block the tracks in advance of making a turn onto Highway 2A, and it will ease the congestion experienced on the west side of Highway 2A. The warrant analysis for this and other intersections analyzed as part of this study are contained in the Appendix.
As part of the signalization of this intersection, gates should be included for the railway crossing given the close proximity of the crossing to the intersection to warn drivers about approaching trains. As a minimum, if new railway pre-emption equipment is required installed as part of the traffic signal, the new pre-emption equipment should be specified so that it will provide sufficient warning for gates that may be installed at some future date.
A northbound to eastbound right turn lane to Wolf Creek Drive should be included in the widening of Highway 2A. This may necessitate acquiring additional right of way from the railway. This lane will act as a storage lane to prevent right turning vehicles that are waiting for a train to pass from backing onto the northbound through lanes of the Highway.
A southbound to westbound right turn lane to Woodlands Drive should be included in the widening of Highway 2A. This lane will provide allow southbound right turn traffic from Highway 2A to decelerate while not impeding southbound through traffic. This section of Highway is expected to be 70 km/hr and TAC recommends this right turn lane is required if the speed of the highway exceeds 60 km/hr.
The west side intersection with the service road is currently organized as a Type I intersection,[1] carrying a daily volume of less than 2000 vehicles per day. This intersection can be allowed to continue to function in the existing configuration until such time as daily volumes exceed 2000 vehicles per day, as which time the intersection would normally be upgraded to a Type II design with a median restricting movements to right turns only. However, given (a) the strategic placement of this intersection in the midpoint of the Highway 2A service road, and (b) the long term forecasts of 5000 to 7000 vehicles per day on Woodland Drive at this location, it is recommended that the intersection be upgraded to Type 3 with a 45 metre separation once daily traffic volumes exceed 2000 vehicles per day. This is discussed in more detail in the long term section of this report. Note also that the intersection should be monitored. If the accident frequency increases beyond an acceptable level then the intersection will need to be either (a) revised as a Type II intersection with the service road on an interim basis prior to re-constructing it as a Type III intersection, or (b) immediately re-constructed as a Type III intersection and squared up with Highway 2A as much as possible so as to minimize future operational problems. It is noted that the long term recommendation for this intersection involves a Type III design as discussed later in this report.
The recommended intersection design is illustrated on Exhibit 4-4A.
[1] The Type I, II and III service or frontage road intersections are described in the following section.