Newell County eyes ways to ease traffic at meat-packing intersection

By Medicine Hat News on December 21, 2023.

The County of Newell is looking at options to reduce congestion at the intersection leading to the JBS meatpacking plant west of Brooks.

Council members will receive an overview of options at their meeting today after ordering the traffic study in April following requests from the plant officials.

Currently, an uncontrolled Trans-Canada Highway intersection leads onto a range road that is quickly intersected by Old Gun Club Road, which parallels the Trans-Canada and joins to the main exit to the city.

Last winter, JBS officials approached the county proposing to pay half the costs of a study to build another approach to the plant, which employees more than 2,000 workers on several shifts.

The study found that as many as 1,200 vehicles per hour, including transport trucks, can pass through the non-highway intersection. It is rated for 450 vehicles per hour.

Several direct access points from along Gun Club Road to parking lots are being considered.