A growing traffic congestion problem at peak times in Bragg Creek has spurred some hamlet residents to take the issue to task. An online petition through Change.
A growing traffic congestion problem at peak times in Bragg Creek has spurred some hamlet residents to take the issue to task.
An online petition through Change.org has been launched to put pressure on Alberta Transportation to follow its own recommendations that came out of a 2012 study to create an alternative solution to the four-way stop at highways 22 and 758 and Balsam Avenue.
“The traffic volumes are increasing but for whatever reason, Alberta Transportation hasn't kept up … it's very dysfunctional right now, ” said Michael Shea, a longtime resident of the hamlet and member of the Bragg Creek Revitalization Committee and head of the sub-committee handling the intersection issue.
By press time, the petition had 341 signatures after a week in circulation. The goal is 500 signatures and to present it to Minister of Transportation Brian Mason.
According to Shea, the long wait times at the intersection are not only affecting quality of life for residents, but are having the opposite effect on attracting tourism and boosting population in the hamlet - the central focus of the revitalization committee.
“We need good roads … and as a parent I would worry about my kids starting to drive on these roads, ” added Shelley Shea, Michael's wife.
The Sheas emphasized that as the surrounding area continues to grow, the added recreational weekend traffic making its way to the hamlet for its artisan roots-centric downtown and surrounding recreational amenities, hiking and cycling trails will only continue to increase.
Richard Brown is chair of the revitalization committee - which came to life around a year ago, following the 2015 launch of the area's revitalization plan to address the devastation the hamlet has faced since the 2013 flood.
“The bottom line is that Calgary and area is increasing in size … our objective as the revitalization committee is to increase the population and tourism out here, ” he explained.
Cameron Westhead is the NDP MLA for Banff-Cochrane and is also a Bragg Creek resident.
“Being a resident of Bragg Creek and having to go through that intersection I can certainly understand the residents' frustrations, Westhead said, adding he has made Mason aware of the problematic intersection and would continue to advocate putting the four-way onto the ministry's priority list.
Michael said while he has been advised the four-way stop has not yet made the ministry's three-year plan, he is aware there is a slush fund to address some pressing issues ahead of time.
The transportation study released five years ago evaluated seven alternatives, recommending “Alternative X ” - to construct an oblong intersection at highways 22 and 758 and Burnside Drive, as well as a three-legged roundabout at Highway 22 and Balsam Avenue.
The cost at that time was pegged at $2 million. No Tsuut'ina lands are required for the proposed solution.
A Facebook thread on the petition included comments by some suggesting once the south Calgary ring road construction is complete, it would alleviate the four-way stop pressures in the hamlet.
Brown said he thought this was “speculative ” given that a considerable amount of traffic congestion issues are directly correlated to tourist traffic and not commuter pressures.
Visit Change.org and look up “change the four way stop at Bragg Creek. ”
