Love them or hate them, traffic roundabouts are here to stay.
The design provides an alternative to the standard intersection: instead of stopping for traffic lights, vehicles move continuously around a circle, merging to enter and then leaving on the appropriate road.
There is already a roundabout constructed on Line 6, although it is not complete.
Another traffic circle is now proposed at the intersection of 25 Sideroad and Big Bay Point Road.
The Town of Innisfil’s 2018 Transportation Master Plan Update identified a need for intersection improvements at 25 Sideroad and Big Bay Point Road (Line 13), largely due to the opening of Friday Harbour Resort, which has its main entrance off the 13th Line. Construction was slated for 2024.
Friday Harbour requested that the improvements include a roundabout, and agreed to cover the price tag of about $1.25 million to design and build the roundabout, in exchange for future Development Charges credits.
Friday Harbour has now has asked the town to move up the intersection project, from 2024 to this year, to coincide with other construction projects “nearing completion at the resort.”
In Wednesday night’s virtual meeting of Innisfil Town Council, councillors were told that Friday Harbour will front-end financing of the design, land acquisition and construction, and will also cover any cost overages not eligible for Development Charges, “because it is the developer who is seeking the enhanced infrastructure/streetscape feature.”
Ninety percent of the project, now expected to cost $1,367,667, will be paid for by DCs; 10 percent will come from the ARS – Alternative Revenue Source (OLG casino revenues) and Friday Harbour, to cover the “benefit to existing residents” portion.
Friday Harbour will receive DC credits when it applies for Building Permits.
A staff report noted that while the Town is not expecting “significant public interest” in the project, information will be posted on the GetInvolvedInnisfil webpage.
Council voted to move forward with the land acquisition needed to begin construction this year, with Coun. Kevin Eisses declaring a conflict and excusing himself from the discussion.
“I have family that owns one corner of that intersection,” Eisses explained, who will be impacted by land acquisition plans.
