New Saskatoon bridges easing traffic on busier crossings

Saskatoon’s newest bridges are taking a load off other river crossings around the city.

A new report going to city council’s transportation committee on Monday analyzed the traffic impacts from the opening of the Chief Mistawasis Bridge and reopening of the new Traffic Bridge in 2018.

The numbers show the Chief Mistawasis Bridge is drawing an average of 9,900 vehicles a day, making it the least-used crossing within city limits.

However, nearly all of that traffic appears to have transferred over from the Circle Drive North Bridge, which is now seeing 9,800 fewer vehicles daily.

The changing traffic pattern in the northeast corner has seen a ripple effect on neighbouring roads.

“In general, the streets directly connected to the Chief Mistawasis Bridge saw increased daily traffic,” the report reads.

“Previous alternate routes connecting to the Cricle Drive North Bridge saw some decreases.”

The Chief Mistawasis Bridge was built as part of the north commuter parkway project, which connected McOrmond Drive and Marquis Drive.

While the traffic impacts of the brand new bridge are fairly clear-cut, the impact of the rebuilt Traffic Bridge connecting Victoria Avenue to the downtown core has been harder to gauge.

The bridge is seeing an average of 12,000 vehicles a day, nearly double what it was on the old crossing.

However, the city report notes there may be more vehicles using the Traffic Bridge due to ongoing construction on the nearby Sid Buckwold Bridge — work that is set to resume in the spring.

Traffic on all other bridges hasn’t been impacted by the new crossings.

REPORT OUTLINES DESIRE FOR NEW CONTROLLED INTERSECTIONS

In addition to analyzing the traffic flow on bridges, the report for the transportation committee also delves into traffic assessments of intersections near the river crossings.

Staff looked at controlled and uncontrolled intersections along McOrmond Drive, Central Avenue, Lowe Road and Kerr Road.

The analysis looked at the flow of pedestrians and traffic at each intersection during peak hours in the morning and evening, grading it from A to F.

City administration graded the four-way stop junction of Lowe Road and Nelson Road a “C” during both peak times, with vehicles being delayed by 18.9 seconds in the morning and 20.4 seconds in the evening.

Staff are now recommending city council prioritizes the intersection for installing traffic signal lights.

City councillors on the transportation committee will examine the recommendation on Monday at 2 p.m.