Third Street in Riverside is being considered for road reconstruction and streetscape improvements by the City of Medicine Hat's municipal works department. Plans will be available at the May 1, Municipal Mingle event at the Big Marble Go Centre.--News Photo Collin Gallant
@@CollinGallant
As the city prepares to adopt a new Transportation Master Plan, councillors say they’re hearing concern that a remake which narrowed Division Avenue will be replicated on two other main routes in central Medicine Hat.
Administrators say that’s not necessarily the case, and are inviting Riverside residents to an open house this Thursday to view initial plans for Third Street, which runs across the mature community.
Transportation engineers also told council’s development and infrastructure committee April 17 that they engaged with business owners and residents for three years prior to a redesign on the South Hill that added pathway and changed a number of uncontrolled intersections.
They have begun the same process in Riverside this winter and have invited nearby property owners to view an initial draft design later this week.
“It’s a first look at, ‘Hey, here’s what we’re thinking – what’s your opinion?’,” said Stan Nowakowski, the city’s director of municipal works.
He says that with any major roadway changes, it’s city policy to complete about half the design work, then approach affected property owners for feedback before proceeding.
Third Street N is included in the 2025-26 city budget, and outreach to the owners and operators within a commercial block has begun. Homeowners on the busy, tree-lined artery have been sent letters inviting them to see initial plans Thursday at the ‘Municipal Mingle’ event at the Big Marble Go Centre.
Along with Third Street, general rehabilitation and improvements on another key north-south route, Kingsway Avenue, could move ahead in the next two-year budget, covering 2027 and 2028.
Nowakowski also told committee members that concerns arose after an early draft of the plan denoted “narrowing” as the plan for Kingsway Avenue.
“That’s no longer the case,” he said.
Public complaints have continued about the remake of Division Avenue, separating the Southeast and Southwest Hill neighbourhoods, which removed on-street parking lanes that planners say were underused on the busy section.
That left two lanes and space to add a three-metre-wide trail
That’s led to complaints from some that lanes are too narrow, though staff reiterate they are standard widths even if they appear more narrow.
“Because of Division Avenue, everyone has an opinion about traffic,” said Coun. Andy McGrogan, who asked about how much weight public input is given. Staff said traffic design standards are highly regulated, but the department attempts to balance community views in final designs.
“We know that the road (surface on Kingsway) will need to be rehabilitated,” said department engineering manager Sandeep Pareek. “At that time we’ll consider other improvements.”
Municipal Mingles are held semi-annually to allow residents to discuss major projects in several city departments with staffers.
Included Thursday is a discussion on the current proposal to update the city’s larger Transportation Plan.
Last revisited in 2012, it provides an overview of major road projects needed to accommodate population growth, improve existing traffic flow in the city and address a backlog of sidewalk improvements. An updated version would also blend in a newly developed “active transportation plan.”
