The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal (TIR) released their capital plan for 2017-2018 on Jan. 26 and the plan includes a roundabout for the busy intersection of Route 2 and Route 4 beside the Masstown Market. The on and off ramps for Exit 12 for Hwy 104 also meet at that intersection.
Tom Taggart, councillor for District 10, says a roundabout will improve safety.
“I’m thrilled about it, no question about that,” said the councillor. “This is a question of safety. There has been a long history of accidents there and, honestly, people always said it was a matter of time before someone got killed. Thankfully that didn’t happen and this will be built and make it much safer.”
A TIR infosheet on roundabouts says they are safer than intersections.
“Statistics show that roundabouts reduce fatal and injury collisions by as much as 76 per cent in the United States, 75 per cent in Australia, and 86 per cent in Great Britain. Roundabouts are safer because of slower speeds and reduced conflict points – spots where vehicles may collide,” reads the infosheet. (novascotia.ca/tran/roundabout/TPWRoundabout.pdf)
The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal (TIR) released their capital plan for 2017-2018 on Jan. 26 and the plan includes a roundabout for the busy intersection of Route 2 and Route 4 beside the Masstown Market. The on and off ramps for Exit 12 for Hwy 104 also meet at that intersection.
Tom Taggart, councillor for District 10, says a roundabout will improve safety.
“I’m thrilled about it, no question about that,” said the councillor. “This is a question of safety. There has been a long history of accidents there and, honestly, people always said it was a matter of time before someone got killed. Thankfully that didn’t happen and this will be built and make it much safer.”
A TIR infosheet on roundabouts says they are safer than intersections.
“Statistics show that roundabouts reduce fatal and injury collisions by as much as 76 per cent in the United States, 75 per cent in Australia, and 86 per cent in Great Britain. Roundabouts are safer because of slower speeds and reduced conflict points – spots where vehicles may collide,” reads the infosheet. (novascotia.ca/tran/roundabout/TPWRoundabout.pdf)
TIR officials told the Daily News that the tenders will be released soon and work could start in early summer.
Taggart says the current intersection was poorly designed from the beginning.
“You have a straight line leading to a high speed merging lane, it’s a straight shot up onto the highway, and then you have people coming off the ramp, a lot of people who are strangers to the area,” says Taggart. “I know some of them think it is a four-way stop, and maybe they are looking up at the market wondering where they are going to park.”
Taggart says some people may complain about the roundabout because it forces them to slow down but by and large he believes the community will welcome it.
“Everybody down the shore is going to love this,” says Taggart. “Every time there was a crash there, I would get calls, so, yes, everybody will be thrilled.”
Masstown Market is also undertaking work on Route 2 this summer, widening the road between the market at the gas station to add turning lanes and to stagger driveways.
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