Locals speaking up has prompted the City of Campbell River to ‘speed up’ the process of installing a new traffic light within a bustling neighborhood.
Even with the new subdivision at Jubilee Heights, there’s no traffic light at the intersection of South Dogwood St. and South Alder St.
According to the City, this has raised concerns, with drivers finding it difficult to enter and exit Jubilee Heights. As well, pedestrians find it hazardous to try to cross Dogwood St.
“The new residents of the area have certainly expressed concerns and Dogwood Street is getting busier,” city manager Deborah Sargent tells My Campbell River Now. “All of our local streets are getting busier every day.”
That said, the City has been in discussions with the neighborhood’s developer, Couverdon Real Estate, to try and build a traffic light earlier than planned.
Originally, for one to be installed, one of two ‘triggers’ or ‘thresholds’ were required: either traffic on both South Dogwood and South Alder reached a certain volume, or a certain number of dwelling units were built within Jubilee Heights.
However, Sargent says, “because of our close working relationship and partnership with Couverdon, and also working with ICBC, we’ve been able to get this project rolling before thresholds are met.”
At Monday’s (Oct. 4) city council meeting, council awarded the project to Daeco Installations Ltd for $187,575. Raylec Power LP also put in a bid for $287,980, but the City felt Daeco’s offer ultimately provided the “best value.”
According to Sargent, the new traffic light should be installed sometime this fall.
The original development covenant points to Coverdon paying the entire cost, up to $250,000. But because it’s earlier than planned, the City is offering a cost-sharing arrangement: $42,350 in the approved 2021 capital budget for pedestrian signals crossings plus a $15,100 grant from ICBC will lower Couverdon’s share by $57,450.
“A traffic light was always planned to be there,” Councillor Charlie Cornfield adds. “As the development grew and expanded, the need for it to maintain public safety and traffic movement got more and more important.”
