Yahoo Finance Bragg Creek's congested 4-way stop gets traffic lights
The province says new traffic lights at a key intersection in Bragg Creek will be operational before the Victoria Day weekend.
Officials say the aim is to reduce congestion during peak times and improve safety for residents and visitors where Highway 22 meets Highway 758 and Burnside Drive.
Traffic there had been controlled by a four-way stop, which often led to significant delays. Crews installed the traffic signals last weekend.
Bragg Creek resident Brian Hodgkins, who has been monitoring issues at the intersection for the past few years, said he's happy to see the lights.
"Last summer on the weekends, we sometimes had lineups from the four-way stop here up to the south entrance at Redwood Meadows and it would take cars about 25 minutes to get through," he said.
"We really need this to make this four-way stop safer and to cut down on the congestion."
The province says the intersection is used by 7,000 to 8,000 vehicles daily — and that number can increase by 50 per cent during the peak summer season.
Bragg Creek and Area Chamber of Commerce president Kathleen Burk hopes the new lights will help local businesses.
"We were hearing constant complaints. It was difficult for people, locals trying to leave, visitors trying to come and patronize our town," she said.
Area MLA Miranda Rosin says the lights will serve as a temporary measure until a full intersection upgrade is completed. That's slated for 2025.
Rosin says the traffic backlogs have impacted residents, visitors and local businesses and believes the lights will help.
"Not only is this a four-way stop that makes traffic movement slower to begin with, it's a very confusing, and oftentimes intimidating four-way intersection as well," she said.
