The Town of the Blue Mountains (TBM) council has voted in favour of drafting a by-law that would see the permanent closure of a portion of Beaver Street South near Thornbury’s LCBO and Foodland plaza.
The road is part of a triangular intersection that is considered to be hazardous.
A traffic study conducted in the last few years indicated that where the road intersects with Victoria and Louisa streets, and with Alice and Landsdowne streets is unsafe.
In July, a public meeting was held to discuss the potential permanent closure and other traffic control measures.
Speaking at a meeting of the committee of the whole last week, Shawn Carey, Director of Operations, said staff received a “range of comments” from members of the community.
He said the majority of the comments received in support of the permanent closure were from residents along Beaver Street who would like to see traffic reduced or controlled.
According to Carey, both the LCBO and Foodand are in support of closing a portion of the street and “cleaning up the hazardous intersection.”
However, others expressed concerns that closing a portion of Beaver Street would disrupt the flow of traffic or force it elsewhere -- namely along Landsdowne Street South.
“There are three residents on Landsowne Street South that have expressed concern around the traffic flow being diverted once Beaver Street is closed to Landsdowne,” he said. “And I’d suggest that they have been experiencing an increased traffic flow as a result of the temporary closure of the section of Beaver Street."
Residents also expressed other concerns about Lansdowne Street including speeding vehicles, the road’s overall condition, and lack of a sidewalk for pedestrians.
In a report, prepared by Michael Campbell, construction coordinator for TBM, staff recommended council draft a by-law to stop up and close Beaver Street between Victoria Street and Louisa Street, and that a temporary, multi-use gravel trail be added to Landsdowne Street between Alice Street and Arthur Street, which would cost approximately $250,000.
However, according to Carey, even if council does decide to close a portion of the road through bylaw, it will take two to three years as part of the Thornbury West Reconstruction Phase 1 project.
“It’s not going to happen overnight,” he told council. “It will be a process to get to that.”
Reconstruction of Landsdowne Street to a local road including adding sidewalks is also part of the municipality’s five- to 10-year capital plan.
“I think ... the timing is right to fix that hazardous triangular intersection and close Beaver Street between Louisa and Victoria,” he said.
In an email to CollingwoodToday, Carey said the closure of Beaver Street between Victoria Street and Alice street is funded by development charges.
“The cost to close the street is incorporated within the Thornbury West Phase 1 Reconstruction project,” the email reads.
During the meeting last week, TBM council also voted to direct staff to prepare a report with traffic calming initiatives that could be implemented immediately in the area, including a bylaw to reduce the speed limit to 40km/h.
According to Carey, the timeline for the completion of that report “has not yet been set.”
“The motion is pending ratification by council,” he explained.
Beaver Street, which is currently closed for servicing work, is expected to re-open by mid-September.
