City set to work on high-risk intersections | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Kamloops News

City set to work on high-risk intersections

McGill Road and Summit Drive is considered the highest risk intersection in the city for a collision.

Driving on the Haltson Street ramps at 8th Street or maybe going through McGill Road and Summit Drive? You are driving through two of the worst intersections for collisions and it would cost ICBC $6.6 million in collision costs over five years and the city more than $400,000 to make the necessary safety improvements to just those two intersections.

A study conducted of collisions around the city between 2006-2010 identified 40 high-risk intersections and from there a number of factors were taken into consideration to determine the 20 worst intersections for collisions. A total of 835 injuries were reported in collisions at those 20 intersections and the estimated cost to make each safer is more than $2.7 million.

In the final report, completed July 2012, it was also suggested safety improvements for the corridors of Fortune Drive, Columbia Street and Seymour Street be made.

A complex formula using the average collision rate (per million entering vehicles), the number of vehicles entering the intersection (in millions) and the probability constant was used in the Network Screening Study to determine the critical collision rate, the key number in determining the riskiest intersections. Statistics from ICBC and the city were used in determining the numbers for the study.

A critical collision rate over 1.0 means site-specific intersection characteristics contribute to crashes. The top five intersections identified in Kamloops are all over 1.0. Another 11 intersections are under 0.75, which means a problem with design is not likely. All but four intersections are controlled by traffic signals.

The city is now working on several safety programs as part of the 2013 budget and is looking to work with ICBC to help obtain funding to install an anti-skid surface treatment at a few locations. The treatment was suggested for some intersections and the hope is to install it at one intersection as a pilot project later this year, city engineer Elnaz Ansari says.

More projects and intersections identified in the study are expected to be brought forward next year.

The 20 highest risk intersections in Kamloops, as outlined in a 2012 study of collisions that occurred between 2006-2010. The five worst are pinpointed in red. Details of costs for each intersection can be found by clicking on the pin.

To contact a reporter for this story, email jstahn@infotelnews.ca or call (250) 819-3723.

News from © iNFOnews, 2013
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