Removal of left turn lane Kingsway to 111 Av

[Titanium48]

Why was the left turn lane removed at the intersection of Kingsway and 111 Av? In it's place there is now a completely useless bit of concrete. This project was not on the cities road construction website, and the brief notice on the NLRT construction website said that all left turns would be maintained!

[azzey]

Which direction?

[Titanium48]

Kingsway southeastbound to 111 Av eastbound.

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Originally Posted by Titanium48

the brief notice on the NLRT construction website said that all left turns would be maintained!

You can still turn on 111 Ave E bound from the one open lane on Kingsway SE bound. So in a sense, they're not lying! Not that I agree with this though...I was on this just the other day, and the one lane restriction plus the un-coordinated traffic signals makes for a painful drive.

[chrisvazquez7]

The traffic signals will be replaced soon and I imagine they will be programmed much better. Imagine travelling on 111 St with uncoordinated signals at Kingsway and 106 St, and then throw a train every 5 minutes into that mix...

[chrisvazquez7]

I found this:

http://www.edmonton.ca/transportatio...ne_11_2012.pdf

"Beginning Monday, June 11 eastbound traffic on Kingsway will be permanently banned from turning left onto 111 Avenue."

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Hopefully they'll put up some directional signage directing people to turn right at 108 St and then left at 111 Ave.

[Titanium48]

I suppose that explains the new lights on 111 Av at 108 St, but what was the point of all of this work just to add more lights to 111 Av and an extra turn and 50 m to my trip back from superstore? Why no explanation and why wasn't the change announced until after the fact?

[cnr67]

And the no left turn sign prevents this? Really? Nope. 3 cars ahead of me tonight made the turn albeit with no oncoming traffic whatsoever. Unless a cop is watching, this will continue.

[East McCauley]

^Like most changes to well established travel patterns, people will eventually catch on and adapt. Probably a good thing the change was made well before the LRT line starts crossing 111 Avenue and the relocated transit centre opens.

Even without LRT, I found the left turn borderline unsafe. Because of the short distance involved, it was easy for distracted left turning drivers to blow through 106 Street when the light was red.

[chrisvazquez7]

Originally Posted by East McCauley

Even without LRT, I found the left turn borderline unsafe. Because of the short distance involved, it was easy for distracted left turning drivers to blow through 106 Street when the light was red.

Also because of the poorly timed lights, most times you would turn left into a red light anyway, with very little room between intersections. Stopped traffic would often block the intersection, especially with all the buses that used to make that left turn.

I'm glad it's gone, but still waiting for proper signage (doubt that mobile electronic construction sign will be there forever).

[Titanium48]

The only problem with the old configuration was light timing - the light on 111 Av at 106 St needed to stay green 10 seconds longer to avoid congestion on 111 Av between Kingsway and 106 St.

The new configuration also has some ridiculous light timing. The light at 108 St and 111 Av stays green for 111 Av through most of the interval when 111 Av has a red at both 109 St and Kingsway, then changes just before the 109 St and Kingsway lights turn green! One often has to stop at all 3 lights on 111 Av. Advancing the cycle by 20 seconds or so would make a lot more sense.

[The_Cat]

Is there a way that Kingsway/111 could allow for left turns during off-peak hours?

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Originally Posted by Titanium48

The only problem with the old configuration was light timing - the light on 111 Av at 106 St needed to stay green 10 seconds longer to avoid congestion on 111 Av between Kingsway and 106 St.

The new configuration also has some ridiculous light timing. The light at 108 St and 111 Av stays green for 111 Av through most of the interval when 111 Av has a red at both 109 St and Kingsway, then changes just before the 109 St and Kingsway lights turn green! One often has to stop at all 3 lights on 111 Av. Advancing the cycle by 20 seconds or so would make a lot more sense.

Yes but Edmonton's Transportation department doesn't quite work that way.

[azzey]

Originally Posted by The_Cat

Is there a way that Kingsway/111 could allow for left turns during off-peak hours?

That might work. What would be considered "peak hours" for that intersection though? When is it busiest?

[The_Cat]

I'm guessing any hours other than 6:30 a.m.-9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m.

[East McCauley]

Originally Posted by The_Cat

Is there a way that Kingsway/111 could allow for left turns during off-peak hours?

Problem is this isn't a regular intersection where those wanting to turn left are always in the left lane and only not allowed to during peak periods.

Requiring drivers on Kingsway to be in the far right lane to turn left during peak periods, and then allowing them to be in the far left lane during non-peak periods (while others may choose to turn left using the far right lane via 108 Street) strikes me as a recipe for confusion or worse. It would also further complicate synchronizing of traffic lights.