Due to an overwhelming amount of citizen feedback, The City
has decided to remove the traffic pattern in the McKenzie Towne roundabout. Our
crews will be removing the painted lines located in the roundabout the week of
December 10, weather permitting, during low traffic times. In conjunction with
the line removal, crews will also install temporary curved line segments to
divide each line on the east and west of the roundabout.
Although the nature of this work may require lane closures
and/or detours for up to two hours, we will give adequate notice to the
affected communities and businesses prior to its start. We expect to have a
more exact date and time of when this work can be completed, by next week.
The line segments will be installed to pronounce the
definition of the two lanes located in the roundabout, and assist motorists as
they revert to an un-painted roundabout. The signs and lines located outside of
the circle will remain in place. The City of Calgary always has citizen safety at the forefront of every
project we endure. The removal of the lines in the McKenzie Towne roundabout
will still meet municipal and national safety standards.
A few frequently asked questions have been raised throughout
this process:
Why can’t we have one continuous dotted centre line
dividing the roundabout’s lanes?
Using a continuous dotted line within a roundabout would
actually negate the ‘yield to the vehicle on the left’ rule while inside the
roundabout. The line would create the illusion that motorists would have
to yield to vehicles on their right. This design would potentially create major
points of conflict for motorists, and does not adhere to both national and
municipal safety standards.
Why aren’t there lines painted on Prestwick Boulevard
exit, Inverness Gate and McKenzie Towne Gate S.E.?
These roadways are not wide enough for two standard lanes to
be created. This means that two vehicles could not travel side-by-side and stay
within the lanes without potential conflicts arising.
The City recognizes that the immediate installation and
removal of these lines has a significant impact on area motorists. For this, we
appreciate your cooperation and patience.
For more information on how to drive a roundabout
please visit this
page or type “roundabout” into the Calgary.ca Search bar. Also visit The Alberta Transportation
website for a comprehensive video on roundabouts.