A number of transportation issues were raised at a come-and-go open house, hosted on Thursday evening in the lobby of Crescent Point Place.
The open house was held by the City and RM of Weyburn, with representatives from the province’s Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure, WSP Engineering and the Weyburn and District Planning Commission on hand to discuss issues with residents.
(In the photo, Coun. Dick Michel watches as Coun. Jeff Richards places a dot to show where he lives, and where he commutes to for work, on one of the maps set up at the open house.)
The engineering firm was contracted by the district planning commission, and have already been collecting data, including compiling daily traffic counts coming in and leaving the city, as well as of key arterial and collector roads in the city and RM.
Some of the issues raised were in regard to the rail traffic going through the city and area, and pending improvements such as passing lanes on Highway 39 to the northwest and southeast of Weyburn.
One discussion raised was transportation issues around the possible Comtrax development southeast of the city on Highway 39 and how traffic flows in and out of this hub might be affected.
In addition to the unknown factor of this development is the possible future location for Weyburn’s new hospital, as the traffic patterns around this new facility will impact on transportation infrastructure requirements in the city, not to mention the new large elementary school and culture-recreation facility currently under construction on Fifth Street.
The need for a truck route was also raised, with one route suggested going north and around the city, with concerns also raised about the truck traffic that currently goes east-west on Highway 13/First Avenue through the city.
Some of the initial list of issues brought forward included the intersection at Highways 39 and 13 with the skewed angle, and delays caused by trains at the various crossings in the city.
WSP will compile a study from all of the data on the roads and highways to examine potential new links to support future growth and improve the overall network of roads. The objective is to define a regional transportation plan that is sustainable, safe and efficient for both existing and long-term horizons, and to examine potential transportation infrastructure requirements for future development.
While some issues such as the passing lanes that are pending for Highway 39 were mentioned, the project outline noted this regional transportation plan is considered separate from the improvements planned for Highway 39.
The next step is to compile and analyze the feedback from the consultation input, and by September to develop a draft regional transportation plan. A second public information session will be held in October, and the final report to the district planning commission, and the two municipalities, will be done by October or November.
