TransLink released a list of upgrades today to roads, cycling paths and walkways around Metro Vancouver.
In all, TransLink is spending $125 million.
But out of all of those items, one stood out to me as working to fix one of the region’s worst intersections.
The transit authority, which also handles some roads and bridges, said it’s going to spend $256,000 on changes at the terrible intersection of Canada Way and 10th Avenue on the Burnaby-New Westminster border.
“Intersection safety and capacity improvement (reduce crash frequency and severity, reduce delay, reduce MRN travel time) by providing separate left-turn lanes on all four legs,” reads the news.
Well it’s about damn time.
Anyone who has driven, cycled or walked through this area knows what a gong show it is during most times of the week, but especially during morning and afternoon rush hours.
Now, I’ll be clear, most of the safety issues are caused by the impatience of drivers who make some terrible decisions. For example, drivers heading east and west on 10th getting fed up behind a vehicle that’s turning left and so they pull out suddenly from behind the line and nearly hit another driver or get schmucked themselves.
I’ve seen so many near-misses over the years. Things are not helped by some of the big trucks that roll through this area.
Now, this road project aims to save drivers from themselves.
I hope it works.
You can see the full list of Burnaby projects here.
For the first time since the program’s inception, all 23 local governments in Metro Vancouver will receive funding for various types of infrastructure improvements within their community.
The $125 million awarded this year will help construct or improve 131 projects throughout the region, while helping to upgrade or maintain over 2,600 kilometres of roads in the Major Road Network (MRN).
Through the Municipal Funding Program, TransLink contributes up to 75 per cent of funding for upgrades for 21 municipalities, the Tsawwassen First Nation, and Electoral Area A. For projects improving the efficiency of bus operations, TransLink may fund up to 100% of the project costs.
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.
