Despite protests from the ward councillor, the city’s transit committee has approved a roundabout for a busy intersection in Orleans.
If it passes at city council next week, the construction on the $2.5-million roundabout at the intersection of St. Joseph and Jeanne d’Arc boulevards would begin in June.
However, Orleans Coun. Bob Monette, who is not a member of the committee, said most of his constituents are against the roundabout and there are concerns that traffic is too heavy for such an intersection in that area.
“The fact that it is in the middle of a hill, with traffic coming directly off the highway concerns me greatly.”
However, executive director of the Heart of Orleans Business Improvement Area Peter Stewart supported the roundabout. He said it will improve the look of the entire street and act as a new gateway for Orleans.
Bruce Morgan, a civil engineer who practises law with the Gowlings firm, said the proposed 50-metre-wide roundabout is too narrow to accommodate the amount of traffic that would pass through during rush hour.
But even at that size, IBI Group engineer David Hatton said the proposed intersection is sufficient for expected traffic volumes as far as 2031.
