Changes are coming to a major intersection on the Port Moody/Coquitlam border.
Tuesday, May 28, Port Moody council approved a pilot program that will change the way motorists navigate the traffic corridor where St. Johns Street, Dewdney Trunk Road, Ioco Road and the Barnet Highway meet.
According to a staff report presented to council, the intersection has been generating complaints about drivers heading northbound on Dewdney Trunk Road turning right onto Barnet then immediately trying to cut over into the eastbound left turn lane onto Ioco, often blocking traffic heading straight through from St. Johns to the Barnet.
The jam up and eagerness of motorists to avoid getting caught up in it also presents a safety hazard to pedestrians using the intersection, said Port Moody traffic engineer Nobinur Rahman.
To ease the congestion and improve safety, the slip lane for right turns onto Barnet from Dewdney Trunk will be blocked off. Instead, the right and left-turn lanes on Dewdney Trunk road will be separated by delineators and right turns on a red light from Dewdney Trunk will be restricted.
As well, plastic lane delineators will be installed on the eastbound left turn lane from Barnet onto Ioco Road to prevent drivers from trying to weave into the leftmost lane between Dewdney Trunk and Ioco Road.
The traffic signals at the intersections will also be adjusted to accommodate the changes.
Rahman said the plan was one of four possible scenarios devised by a consultant that studied traffic patterns at the busy convergence for months and modelled various solutions.
Mayor Meghan Lahti said while safety improvements at the intersection are needed and welcome, council and city staff should gird for complaints.
“People will lose their minds when they have to sit in line,” she said, adding she also questions how long the plastic delineators will last before frustrated drivers just plow through them as happened with similar barriers installed to slow traffic coming down the steep hill on Moray Street.
Rahman said it’s hoped most drivers will eventually change their route and not use Dewdney Trunk Road as a way to get to Ioco Road.
Coun. Diana Dilworth said the city will be vigilant about any domino effect the changes might have on traffic flow and make any necessary adjustments.
“We’re making change for the better,” she said.
The pilot project is budgeted to cost up to $80,000, with the money coming the city’s transportation reserve fund.
Moi said while he couldn’t give the trial a definitive time frame, he said it should last long enough to allow for the collection of enough data not only about its impacts on traffic flow and safety, but also durability and maintenance.
