Ontario Construction News staff writer
The City of Kingston has released the final design of the Highway 15 and Gore Rd intersection, providing an opportunity for public review and ask questions.
The project team is being led by the Third Crossing team. The final design which focuses on active transportation, provides an increase in features for cyclists, pedestrians, and transit users.
“As we continue to build transportation infrastructure projects in Kingston, providing more travel options that are focussed on sustainable transportation is a priority,” says Mark Van Buren, Deputy Commissioner of Major Projects Office. “The Third Crossing project will provide alternative methods of transportation for cyclists, pedestrians, transit users and motorists vehicles to connect to different parts of our city and the larger Kingston region.”
In September 2019, the Third Crossing project team provided a draft concept design of Hwy 15 & Gore Rd intersection based upon the preliminary work on the Hwy 15 Class Environmental Assessment. Since then, there have been city-wide decisions based on global and municipal interests surrounding climate change and sustainability, which have influenced the final design.
The final design will be available ask questions can be sent to the project team for two weeks on the city’s Get Involved website – until June 29.
Highlights of the final design of Hwy 15 and Gore Rd intersection prioritizes:
- Increasing pedestrian facilities with the addition of sidewalks and pedestrian refuge areas at all four corners of the intersection.
- Making it safer for cyclists with the creation of off-road cycling facilities and cross rides so cyclists can move through the intersection easier.
- Providing more travel options by building a multi-use pathway for multi-modal users on both Gore Rd and Hwy 15.
- Expanding transit infrastructure in all directions by allowing for transit queue-hopping and providing bus stops at the intersection in all directions for future service.
- Supporting various methods of commuting around Kingston that encourage sustainable transportation.
Highway 15 is a major artery in the east end of the city, an area that has changed a great deal over the past decade.
A Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) study is underway to review the future transportation needs of Highway 15. It will consider current and future transportation needs of pedestrians, cyclists, Kingston Transit and vehicles in light of the recent and expected growth in this area. Residents will have been asked for their input at several points in the process and public open houses were held to gather input.
The Class EA study area includes Highway 15 from the 401 to Highway 2, and Highway 2 from the La Salle Causeway to Princess Mary Avenue.
The city contracted HDR Corporation to assist with the Class EA to:
- Evaluate alternative solutions and design concepts to improve traffic flow.
- Assess the possible environmental effects of implementing various solutions and identify possible ways to mitigate any adverse impacts.
- Recommend a preferred alternative.
- Prepare a required Environmental Study Report to be submitted to the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change for approval.