The Town of Black Diamond expects some growing pains as motorists get used to the community’s first set of traffic lights.
Traffic lights at the intersection of Highway 7 and 22 were switched on Jan. 6, replacing the four-way stop.
Public works manager Tom Dougall is reminding drivers to take extra care and attention at the intersection to get used to the new signals.
“I was standing at the corner for half an hour after they got it going and there was a couple of people who were confused by it,” he said. “There will be some growing pains, I’m sure. It’s going to take some getting used to, that’s for sure.”
Construction began in fall 2016 to reconfigure the roads and sidewalks and install the traffic signals, which went up a few weeks ago.
The lights had been flashing red about a week prior to signal traffic to use the intersection as they would a four-way stop, said Dougall.
He said construction crews were on hand directing a steady flow of traffic after they were switched on.
“Some of the people, because it had been flashing red for a week, they were trying to go on the red,” said Dougall. “All in all, I thought it went pretty good for the half hour I was there. At 4 or 6 tonight it will be a whole different tune.”
The lights will be operating normally from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. and will flash red from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., operating as a four-way stop, said Dougall.
Alberta Transportation identified the intersection as a high priority for traffic lights in a study looking at large traffic volumes in the community.
The study also addressed the need for eventual highway widening, turning lanes and more traffic lights for 10, 20 and 30-year scenarios in anticipation for growth.
Sharlene Brown, Black Diamond chief administrative officer, agreed traffic lights are needed at the busy intersection.
“Every year there is new concerns coming in about that four-way stop,” she said. “There’s been a few near misses, but there is no tragedies at that particular spot.”
Brown said an average of 10,000 vehicles drive through the intersection daily. The Alberta Transportation study provided data showing six collisions with property damage and one minor collision occurred at the intersection from 2008 to 2012.
Buttons are in place to provide an audible signal that offers directional guidance for the visually impaired.
