CARBONEAR, NL — The Town of Carbonear is considering a new intersection with traffic lights to accommodate a potential commercial development on Columbus Drive.
A traffic impact study was completed in 2015 for the town pertinent to further development along Columbus Drive south of Canadian Tire. According to Cynthia Davis, the town’s chief administrative officer, the minimum distance the provincial government would be on board with to approve a new access point for the road would be at most 300 metres from the Columbus Drive-Powell Drive intersection.
There’s been noticeable activity in that area this spring, with equipment clearing land and reshaping it.
At the May 22 regular public meeting, council approved a $44,725 expenditure for Harbourside Transportation Consultants to complete preliminary and detailed design work for the widening of Columbus Drive and Powell Drive. This would be necessary for the Department of Transportation and Works to give its stamp of approval for a new intersection 300 metres south of the existing Powell Drive and Columbus Drive intersection. The cost of this work would be recoverable for the town from the developer.
“Keep in mind too that any development costs are the responsibility of the developer, so whatever those costs are can be levied back to that property developer once that land is all completed and once a development goes there,” Davis noted.
She later pointed out traffic lights would be needed as well for this potential intersection. Council subsequently approved a motion to make a request to the Department of Transportation and Works for permission to set up lights at the intersection once it is designed and the commercial development is in place.
Retaining wall repairs
Council received an update on the status of an unstable retaining wall along the boardwalk trail where High Road South meets Powell Drive.
According to Coun. Vic Jenkins, chair of the town’s public works committee, the wall will be replaced with a new retaining wall built with concrete blocks. The town approved a $23,356 quote from Capital Precast that includes the blocks and engineering work.
SEE RELATED:
'Retaining wall problem forces Carbonear to close section of boardwalk trail'
Goff Avenue property sale
The town accepted an offer to purchase land located at 50 Goff Ave. at the May 22 council meeting.
The land was originally purchased in 2014 as the potential site for a new municipal depot. That idea was scrapped, however, once costs for a new depot were deemed too high for the town to manage. It was later decided to purchase a building on Pike’s Lane for the same purpose.
The Goff Avenue property was sold for $180,000, matching the amount the town paid for the land four years ago. The purchase includes a 24-month development agreement whereby the Town of Carbonear can take back the property if it is left undeveloped.
Cross Roads bridge tender
The Town of Carbonear is issuing a tender for work on the Cross Roads bridge.
An estimate from an engineering consultant last year suggested it would cost the town $372,427.50 to replace the deck of the bridge.
Council voted Tuesday to issue a tender for the project. The bridge is located where Cross Roads intersects Pondside Road.
