WHAT’S GOING ON HERE?: Kortright East, Scottsdale, and different Guelph streets

By Antonio D. Vela On Aug 23, 2022

These traffic-calming curbs on Kortright Road East were installed as part of a pilot project to evaluate whether narrower roads will lead to reduced vehicle speeds.

Slowing drivers down is the main goal of the curbs, bollards and speed cushions that have recently been installed on some Guelph streets, but these installations are not necessarily here to stay.

JUST THE FACTS

“The measures that have been installed this summer are temporary and will be removed prior to the winter season, likely in early November,” City of Guelph traffic engineering supervisor Paul Hutchison said in an email to the Mercury Tribune.

The measures have been installed at six different locations in conjunction with the city’s traffic calming policy, which outlines procedures for addressing traffic safety concerns. Those locations include Starwood Drive, Kortright Road East, Rickson Avenue, Scottsdale Drive, Waverley and Riverview drives, and Maple Street at Forest Street.

Prior to installing the temporary infrastructure, city staff collected data about speed and traffic volume, said Hutchinson. More data will be collected with the measures in place in order to evaluate their effectiveness.

“Permanent installations would then be implemented the following year as per the traffic calming policy,” he said.

The yellow traffic-calming curbs on Kortright Road and Maple Street are the exception. These will stay for the winter, Hutchison said.

“They were implemented as part of a pilot project and will remain year-round,” he said.

The pilot project aims to evaluate whether narrowing the roads with curbs is effective at lowering vehicle speeds.

People can provide feedback on the project by emailing [email protected].

The city is also in the process of lowering speed limits to 40 kilometers per hour on all neighborhood roads in the city, as well as adjusting the limits on some arterial roads.

Where speed cushions have been installed, drivers will need to go slower than the posted limit. But Hutchison noted that signs warn drivers of the presence of the speed cushions, which also include white arrows to ensure they are clearly visible.

Wondering what’s going on somewhere in your community? Email [email protected].