The 1990 Transportation Study and the 1998 Highway 2A Traffic Study both referenced the need for a southeast by-pass connecting Highway2A with Highway 12 on the east side of the Town. Neither study pursued an extension of that south by-pass to include the west area and a connection between Highway2A and Highway 12 west of the Town.
The south by-pass (both east and west) has merit as a road network element, and although not specifically required to accommodate traffic volumes at the 20,000 population horizon, it does represent a possible means of reducing truck traffic within the Town, though opportunities to reduce the truck component on Highway 12 between 58th Street and Highway 2A are limited. The east section of this by-pass would be straightforward to construct along one or both of 46th Avenue or the south Boundary Line of the Town, and the route would also service the development of the southeast area of the Town in any event. As such, it is recommended for inclusion into the 20,000 population road network and has been shown as such on Exhibit 8-5.
The west section of this by-pass would not be expected to carry a significant volume of traffic and it would be very expensive to construct. As such, there is limited utility and likely motivation to undertake the development of the west section of the south by-pass, particularly since there is no means of legislating truck traffic off Highway 12 (as Provincial Highways do not allow truck traffic to be banned under existing legislation). Means to manage the truck traffic in an effective manner is the subject of additional discussion in the report, but suffice to say that the south by-pass should be retained in principle as part of the Town road network in the future to protect for the development of the road if/when it is found to be required, though this is not expected to be necessary prior to the 20,000 population horizon.
A desirable option in lieu of the southwest by-pass would be the provision of an internal east/west route within the Town south of Highway 12. Although the traffic volumes would not be large at the 20,000 population horizon, there exists a need for an east/west connection through the Town driven by internal traffic and the desire lines connecting the employment in the southeast area with the residential development in the west and southwest areas (and vice versa). While much of this traffic could be accommodated by Highway 12, to do so would unnecessarily burden the Provincial through route with local traffic and accelerate the need for four lanes. It would also accelerate the point where that roadway would reach capacity as a four lane facility at some point beyond the 20,000 population horizon. West of Highway 2A this route is not intended to try and accommodate any form of by-pass activity, and nor should it as it passes by numerous existing residential homes. However, east of Highway 2A this route along 46th Avenue could accommodate the east leg of the south by-pass as noted above.
It is recommended that the Town pursue the development of this roadway but that it clearly be designated as closed to truck traffic west of Highway 2A.