Sault Blog

There are many types of roundabouts used in traffic planning and management; however, there are two categories that most roundabouts fall under. 

A residential roundabout has an 80 ft. or less inscribed circular diameter (ICD) with one lane; where the existing speed limit is 25 mph or less and in an urban, suburban, and smaller municipal environment.  Multilane roundabouts are approximately 160-250 ft. in (ICD), are more complex, and generally include two lanes. 

The proposed roundabout at the Goulais Avenue/Second Line intersection will fall under the multilane roundabout as it is a high-volume arterial “road” serving as a gateway to the airport, municipal sports complex, residential neighborhoods, educational facilities, and essential shopping centers.  The scope and cost of this roundabout fall under the multilane, complex roundabout.

Although difficult to assess the cost of a roundabout we should look at other municipalities in Canada to see what the estimated costs of their roundabout journey will be.

Chatham/Kent council voted to accept a tender from LEA Consultants for $401k for the engineering design work for the West Kent roundabout with a projected cost of $2.6M for the roundabout and another $2M for extras in other approach road work.  This cost is for a one-lane roundabout.

Cambridge, ON (Aug. 2023) council approved the spending of $3.6M for two (2) one-lane residential roundabouts on Roseville Road.

Sidney, BC estimated the cost of constructing a multilane roundabout at the corner of Beacon Avenue West and Galaran Road with a connection to a realigned Stirling way to be $7.6M.  This heavily trafficked area connection to their airport, North Saanich, regional shopping, and warehousing will require a multilane roundabout.

The roundabout required at the intersection of Goulais Avenue and Second Line Road will also be multilane. Its cost would be more in line with the expenditures of Sidney, BC. 

The cost of these roundabout seem to escalate with the required purchase of properties, the moving of other infrastructure, and the relocation of sidewalks and pathways. 

The building in question here at the Goulais Avenue/ Second Line Road intersection represents one of those extra costs for installing a roundabout or in an alternate solution a right-hand turn lane only.  The building will be in the way of a roundabout and probably will need to be removed even with “just” the installation of a right-hand turning lane.  The building is not the problem it’s the position of the building right up to the corner of both roads and it poses a line-of-sight problem for traffic at the intersection.  It’s dangerous for pedestrians crossing at the lights.

Visiting the intersection; I noticed a person in a black truck parked in front of the building driving right by the front of the building entrances, by the bike rack, over the pedestrian sidewalk, through the pedestrian crosswalk, and turning right up Goulais Avenue. All the while not able to see if any pedestrians were walking along the west side of the building.  Very irresponsible and dangerous!

The building at that intersection needs to be demolished clearing the way for a new proper right-hand turning lane, there is no question about that. 

The question is why doesn’t the City of Sault Ste. Marie have a list of properties that require expropriation and demolition and be ready to pounce on them as soon as they become available, thus saving taxpayer money.

The failure starts with an Official Plan that does not mandate and budget urban blight and dead asset building removal.  A proper budget needs to be established for the expropriation and demolishing of buildings just like the one at the corner of Goulais Avenue and Second Line Road, and the many other “dead asset buildings” and bighted houses that needs to be removed from our City.

Mark Menean, URBAN MATTERS

Thank you:

Sidney-Town-Talk, Spring 2023

Cambridge Today, August 2023

The Chatham Voice, November 2023

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