‘The Municipal Development Plan: Growing Lacombe’ is a set of guidelines and goals that help the City to determine direction and set goals for growth with a focus on efficiency and quality of life for citizens.
The document was recently reviewed by City council, with a heavy focus on a new infrastructure development of a roundabout intersection on 58th St.
“There are a few big projects in the capital works program this year. We’re well versed in doing sewer replacements, water replacements and overlays, so I don’t see them as major stumbling blocks. There are a number of programs listed that are to be included - some are underground development, some paving, some roadwork and probably some trail sections as well,” said Infrastructure Services Director Matthew Goudy. “I think the most interest that we’ve heard in the community is around the roundabout. It’s also the project that is most over budget in the tender. While that was certainly a surprise to us, if we look at which projects have the highest expectation of variability in pricing – it would be the roundabout.”
The City is still confident in the benefits of pursuing the roundabout intersection because it will provide a safe, efficient intersection in a low-traffic area and will give citizens a chance to get used to the concept.
Goudy said the City of Lacombe is working closely with the City of Red Deer, the Town of Blackfalds and Alberta Transportation on educational material that will be sent out around the province. He also said according the Alberta Transportation, new intersections would all be reviewed as a roundabout prior to using signalization as the structures become more popular in the province.
“We still do think this is a project to go ahead with because the traffic at this intersection is low. It’s not getting put into a really congested intersection and it gives residents a chance to learn about this far-superior intersection treatment. It’s very safe, and without much risk and will be easy to educate drivers,” Goudy said.
As it stands, the Municipal Development Plan has passed first reading and the City will soon be seeking public input on the document.
kmendonsa@lacombeexpress.com