LEFT TURN SIGNAL UPDATE – ISLAND HIGHWAY INTERSECTIONS Staff Report
A report providing updates on the feasibility and planning for installing left turn signals at major intersections along the Island Highway.
TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL PUBLIC WORKS & TRANSPORTATION REPORT
TO: Committee of the Whole
DATE: December 6, 2023
FROM: Ivan Leung, P.Eng Director of Engineering & Parks
MEETING DATE: December 12, 2023
LEFT TURN SIGNAL UPDATE – ISLAND HIGHWAY INTERSECTIONS
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT the report titled “Left Turn Signal Update – Island Highway Intersections” by the Director of Engineering and Parks be received for information.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this report is to update Council on the feasibility of installing left turn signals at the Island Highway at Helmcken Road intersection and the Island Highway at Admirals Road intersection (Project Summary C-140).
TIME CRITICAL:
The contents of this report are not time critical. However, discussions arising from this report could inform future budget deliberations as part of the 2024-2028 Financial Plan.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Staff retained a Transportation Engineering Consultant to determine the feasibility of adding left turn signals as indicated in Project Summary C-140:
Island Highway at Helmcken Road
Left turn signalization meets the MoTI warrant at this intersection. It is recommended to add left turning signals for both the westbound leg and northbound leg of the intersection. Doing so would provide all four legs of the intersection with left turn signals without diminishing level of service. Staff recommend commencing this work in 2024 as indicated in project summary C-140.
Island Highway at Admirals Road
There are several challenges associated with this intersection, including the need to replace aging signal poles, engagement with neighbouring municipalities, MoTI and First Nations, and additional scope to address the left turning overlap issue. Staff recommend incorporating this project with an upcoming Admirals Road capital project.
BACKGROUND:
Per Project Summary C-140 (attached), Council directed staff to review and upgrade traffic signals if protected and/or permitted left turn signalization would be warranted for the following two (2) intersections:
- Island Highway at Helmcken Avenue:
- Westbound Island Highway, left turning to southbound Helmcken Road.
- Admirals Road at Island Highway/Craigflower Road:
- Westbound Craigflower Road, left turning to southbound Admirals, and;
- Southbound Admirals Road, left turning to eastbound Craigflower Road.
2023 involved the retention of a Transportation Engineer to provide a warrant review and recommendations for left turn signals indicated above. The findings from the Transportation Engineer (“Watt Consulting”) would inform on the required physical upgrades, planned for 2024 and 2025.
Figure 1: Intersection Locations (Helmcken intersection to the west, Admirals intersection to the east)
DISCUSSION:
Watt Consulting’s work included:
- Updated traffic volume observations
- Left turn warrant analysis (MoTI warrant analysis)
- Identification of risks / challenges with additional signalization
- Recommendations
Analysis – Island Highway at Helmcken Road Intersection
Watt Consulting’s analysis indicate that a left turn signal meets the MoTI warrant:
Figure 2: Warrant Analysis (Island Highway at Helmcken Road Intersection)
Staff agree with Watt Consulting’s recommendation to add a left turn signal for the Helmcken Road northbound lane as well (as per the comments noted in yellow font above). Doing so would create left turn signalization for all four legs of the intersection and provide more flexibility in signal timing. Level of service is not expected to be impacted significantly.
The required upgrades would involve:
- Adding the additional ‘left turn’ signal to four (4) existing signal heads (two for the westbound Island Highway signals, two for the northbound Helmcken Road signals).
- Adjustments to signal timing and optimized to accommodate current volumes.
Staff recommend installing the above noted works in 2024, as budgeted in project summary C-140. Some additional design work would be required to confirm that the existing signal arms can accommodate the additional signal weight.
Document Images
(1)