Council here heard on Monday four possible options for the rebuilding of the Metcalfe Street from the bridge southward to McNabb Street, and a number of other possible changes to be made in Elora in 2009.
One option includes a roundabout at the five point corner of McNabb, Metcalfe, and Victoria Streets.
The project is a joint one with Wellington County, and will likely cost over $2-million, according to Public Works Director Ken Elder, who noted that the township has received a Canada Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund grant for the work.
Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj called the project “massive reconstruction up the hill.”
Dennis Hollands, of Triton Engineering, presented council with four options, but admitted that only two of them are preferred by him. He said the four options have been sent to Wellington County staff and committees for their opinions.
He added there will be a public meeting on Dec. 4 at Aboyne Hall at the Wellington County Museum from 6:30 to 8:30pm to hear comments and answer residents’ questions about the proposals.
Hollands said the first option is to basically “do nothing.” That means there would continue to be a “bad intersection” at Metcalfe and McNabb. There would be some improvements at the LCBO store, where 14 parking spaces would be increased to 41, with a majority of those to the east of the building at the exit to Water Street, and with others on the north side of the building and along the river.
The entrance to the LCBO would remain one-way, with two way traffic to Water Street and on Clyde Street to Metcalfe.
The changes at the LCBO are included in all four options, as are improvements and changes at the intersection of County Roads 7 and 21.
Option B includes many changes.
Water Street would be realigned to come directly to Metcalfe Street, at a right angle. High Street would have a stop sign before it enters Water Street. The section of High Street to the south of Water Street would be closed and refinished. Drivers heading north on High Street would have to stop at Water Street and then make a left turn to reach Metcalfe Street.
Water Street on the west side of Metcalfe Street would be closed, too. Hollands said there are no driveways there, and perhaps that area can be converted to parking, or, possibly, two building lots.
At McNabb, Victoria, and Metcalfe, there would be a roundabout, with something in the middle to act as a block to traffic. Hollands said large trucks could make the turns with an easy curb on the outside made of decorative concrete or interlocking brick. At the same time, Victoria Street would be closed and become a one way heading north, towards Carlton Place.
Roundabouts are ways of handling traffic at intersections so that there is no stop sign or lights, and traffic can move when the roundabout is clear. Drivers could drive in a complete circle and make a complete turn around if they wish. They were introduced in the Region of Waterloo a few years ago, and have proved to be very successful.
The roundabout would operate counterclockwise, Hollands said.
Councillor Fred Morris asked if Hollands had considered making Victoria a one-way street heading south, and he said he had not, because, coming off the roundabout, the area would become “too congested.”
Morris wondered if the township should block access to Little Folks if it is redeveloped. Hollands said in that case, Victoria Street could be one way heading north, but then there would have to be something to block access to the roundabout.
Option C includes the same changes to the LCBO and Water Street, but would realign McNab Street to make it a right angle entrance onto Metcalfe Street, without a roundabout. In order to reach the County Road or continue up Metcalfe, the driver would have to make a left turn, instead of the current situation where there is a stop sign and a nearly straight line from McNab Street to County Road 7.
Hollands said the thinking is “to clean up that intersection. As in Option C, Victoria Street would be closed. He said only two driveways on that street would be affected by that change.
Option D, which Hollands stated specifically he is not recommending, would be to close McNabb off entirely from Metcalfe Street.
“I don’t think the county is in favour of that,” he said.
Hollands said that there are plans in the area for ornamental street lights, similar to what is currently in the downtown.
As well, Metcalfe would have sidewalks on both sides, and there would be “major improvements” from McNab to the LCBO on the east side of Metcalfe. At the LCBO the stone wall would be removed, the steps removed, and the area terraced. He promised to some chuckles, “There will be access to the LCBO at all times.”
In responding to a question from Morris, Hollands said drivers turning right from High Street onto Water Street would be able to see traffic in case someone is turning left onto Water from Metcalfe. He said that area will be open and visibility good.
Councillor Shawn Watters asked about the timing of the project.
Hollands said first the option must be chosen, it must be approved by the township and county, and once everything is in place, it can go to tender in 2009. He added the project will be a lengthy one, and will close traffic in the area from May to the end of construction season in late fall.
Ross-Zuj said the county has concerns about snow removal from the roundabout because its trucks are too big, and it has asked if the township can handle that work.
Elder said that still has to be figured out. “Roundabouts are new to us,” he said. But, he said, the township has a truck that could do the work.
Councillor Bob Foster asked if traffic lights at McNab, Metcalfe, and Victoria Street have been considered.
Hollands said they had not, because the county had said it does not want them at that intersection.
Elder agreed, and said five point intersections are a “nightmare” for municipalities. He noted Guelph has one and has tried ten different ways to operate the lights there, and is yet to be satisfied. Elder also noted that there are elevations problems at the Elora intersection.
LCBO manager Paul Walker agreed, and said in winter traffic would be backed up to the bridge because climbing and starting on the hill is simply too difficult with traffic lights.
Councillor Walt Visser likes roundabouts, and called the proposal “great.”
Hollands also pointed out that a roundabout “doesn’t impede access to the fire department.”
Ross-Zuj said the parks and recreation department is planning to plant the east side hill in a garden setting.
She said that plan would “make a beautiful entrance to the village.”
Hollands did warn that there will be “substantial disruption” during the work, and there will be times there is no access over the bridge. That will leave people with the option of using County Road 7 to reach the south side of the river, and David Street at the north end of Elora is the main access point for that. The other option is to go to Fergus to cross the river.
