Charlottetown is getting another roundabout in 2013.
The provincial government held a press conference this morning where it announced a roundabout will be constructed at the entrance to the Charlottetown Airport, which is the intersection of Brackley Point Road and Sherwood Road.
The $1.5 million cost will be split among three partners — the provincial government, City of Charlottetown and Charlottetown Airport. Each is expected to contribute $500,000.
The city moved a step closer to putting in a roundabout at the Brackley Point Road-Sherwood Road intersection earlier this month when council voted 7-3 in favour of moving to the design phase.
City taxpayers will pay CBCL Ltd. $25,000 to redesign the intersection.
Up until now, it appeared that there wouldn’t be any more roundabouts in Charlottetown until the federal government announces the next infrastructure fund agreement, which is expected to happen in time for the 2014 construction season.
The city has identified two intersections it wants to rework into roundabouts — the one at the airport and the so-called Vogue Optical intersection.
Today’s announcement is not expected to affect the city’s intentions to proceed with the intersection at Vogue Optical but that project will likely have to wait until 2014 when more federal money starts to roll out.
The airport roundabout is ranked below the one at Vogue Optical in terms of priorities for the city but, in this case, the money became available for the airport project first.
The airport roundabout is pegged at $1.5 million, split among the province, city and airport. The Vogue Optical intersection, fed by five separate streets, will cost $2.5 million.
Engineers had a look at the airport intersection for the city and determined that a roundabout was possible.
dstewart@theguardian.pe.ca
Twitter.com/DveStewart
I must be the only lucky Islander driving the roads! I take the airport intersection twice 5 days a week, going to and from work. About 8am in the morning and a little after 4pm in the afternoon. Never saw an accident, never have to wait more than a few seconds to turn down Sherwood Road in the afternoon. I've been travelling this way for 6 years now. I travel this way to avoid the lights on the by-pass and route 2. Not that I think a round-a-bout will slow down my transit to work but it's just a big waste of money. I'd like to see the stats on accidents at this intersection and the police reports on them. Why was there accidents? Is it speed coming from Brackley? People not stopping at the stop signs?