(City councillor Shad Qadri responded to a resident’s letter about traffic at Huntmar & Maple Grove.)
I have had City Traffic staff review the intersection of Maple Grove and Huntmar Road. Northbound vehicle movements were analyzed from turning volume counts completed in June and October 2014. The counts showed that 10 percent of vehicles made a left turn, 60 percent of vehicles proceeded straight through and 30 percent of vehicles made a right turn. The northbound lanes for the temporary signal were designed as a share left/through and an exclusive right turn lane base on the results from the counts.
Working within the existing curb lines for the temporary signal, the alignment works better for northbound vehicles travelling through the intersection from the shared left/through lane. Traffic staff have the same lane configurations at other intersections within the City of Ottawa.
The existing northbound lanes also helps to remove cyclists from the heavy right turning vehicles (cycling lane painted to the left of the right turn lane).
Specific turn and straight through arrows have now been painted on the roadway to help assist motorists traversing the intersection. This should assist drivers.
I have also requested Traffic staff to continue to monitor this intersection for the next week to confirm if the intersection is working to its upmost efficiency.
Sincerely,
Shad Qadri