Intersection improvements are under consideration for the north junction of Provincial Trunk Highway 67 and Provincial Road 236.
Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure will host a public information session to review functional design alternatives for this intersection, which is experiencing an increase in traffic volumes. The come-and-go event will take place on Thursday, Dec. 19 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Heritage Arts Centre.
Between 2017 and 2021, a total of 18 collisions were recorded along Provincial Trunk Highway 67 — and nine of them occurred at the intersection with Provincial Road 236.
According to the presentation materials, the number of accesses is excessive near the intersection, and the existing accesses are causing traffic delays. Currently, there are 25 accesses belonging to residents and businesses in the study area.
In addition, traffic volumes will likely increase since Stonewall continues to grow.
The goals of the project are to enhance the main intersection leading into Stonewall, to design to accommodate continued growth and traffic volume, and to improve safety and the overall level of services at the intersection.
Design options will consider the wants and needs of drivers, active transportation users and pedestrians.
The project began in spring 2024 with a review of existing conditions, as well as analysis of historical crash records, traffic patterns, utility locates and topography. An in-service road review and environmental and regulatory risk assessment was also undertaken.
In the summer and fall, the project continued with gathering information from Stonewall council and conducting a soil survey, testing materials and reporting. Other work included a traffic impact assessment and development of conceptual design alternatives.
Now the project is in the phase that offers engagement opportunities, which will lead to the recommendation of one preferred alternative based on evaluation.
Further engagement opportunities will take place in winter and spring, followed by detailed design and tendering in the summer.
One alternative would be to maintain a similar layout to the existing intersection but refine the geometry to accommodate large trucks and increase pedestrian safety.
Another option would be to install traffic signals along with improvements to the lanes and geometry of the existing intersection.
The third alternative would be a single-lane roundabout, with the north and south lanes realigned eastward to accommodate the diameter. Pedestrian crossing distances would also be reduced.
For those who are unable to make it to the Dec. 19 event, they can view the presentation boards at bit.ly/MTI-Stonewall-PresentationBoards and fill out a survey at surveymonkey.com/r/StonewallIntersection. The survey will be open until Jan. 9. Questions and comments can also be shared with Elise Ouellette, community engagement specialist with Scatliff + Miller + Murray, by emailing eoullette@scatliff.ca.
