A new traffic light at Bruce Ave. and Fifth St. will come online after Remembrance Day, finishing a project to establish better traffic flows through Harewood. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

SIGNAL SWITCHOUT

New signal at high-traffic Bruce & Fifth intersection coming online

Nov 7, 2023 | 4:56 PM

NANAIMO — Traffic flows are poised to be different through Harewood beginning next week.

Work, which began in the summer, is effectively done at Bruce Ave. and Fifth St. intersection, transforming the high-traffic area from a four-way stop to a signalized intersection.

Phil Stewart, City manager of engineering projects, said the traffic signals will more efficiently move traffic through the intersection and prevent cars constantly having to pause at a four-way stop.

“With a signal, you’ve got free flow traffic in two directions and it just reduces that wait, even though people will be waiting at the light for a minute…it’s quite a bit faster overall.”

The nature of the surrounding area, with a growing number of shops and restaurants, also influenced the design of the project.

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Stewart said pedestrians can complicate matters at four-way stop intersections, often disrupting the flow of traffic navigating through, especially among turning vehicles.

He said crossing at a dedicated crosswalk will be safer and disrupt cars on fewer occasions.

In addition to the signalized intersection, crews also completed some water main replacement work underneath and ensured crosswalk connections at the intersection.

Paving at the site was completed last week and a majority of line painting is also done.

Stewart said the current plan is to switch on the intersection after the morning rush on Tuesday, Nov. 14.

Also installed at the site are traffic monitoring cameras, similar to other intersection upgrades around the city.

The devices do not capture or store any visuals, but rather detect vehicles moving through the area to help optimize traffic flows.

“The cameras are looking down at the traffic and they’re actually constantly making adjustments, especially during the busy hours to allow the appropriate amount of green time, when there’s no more cars to come through it’ll switch over and let the other side come through.”

Stewart said the technology has evolved to a point where they’re largely self-sufficient and don’t require a site visit to the control cabinet to make timing changes.

Construction came in under the $1.3 million budget, according to Stewart.

He added the City did consider a roundabout at the site and modelled the option early on in the process.

Installation of a roundabout would have required purchase of at least two neighbouring properties to afford enough space, likely doubling the cost.

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