SUMMER TRAFFIC BARRIERS TO STOP SHORT CUTS THROUGH ‘SNOB HILL’

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

BRACEBRIDGE — Complaints about cars cutting through their neighbourhood and using it as a short cut to “The Flats” will see a summer traffic barrier trial on Wellington Street North at Manitoba Street.

The Town of Bracebridge is implementing the “calming improvement project” from Tuesday July 6 to Thursday Sept. 30.

They say in a release late Friday afternoon that the intent of this closure is to reduce the amount of “cut-through” traffic being generated and to provide traffic flows for residents in the area, which for decades has been known among locals as “Snob Hill.”

It means the closing of the north end of Wellington Street North, eliminating southbound movements from Manitoba Street (Muskoka Road 4) and providing right-hand only exit turning movements from Wellington Street North.

In 2020, public works staff completed a traffic study of the Wellington Street North corridor to review ongoing concerns with traffic movements related to speed, stop control disobedience, traffic volumes and truck traffic. Data was collected from June to November 2020 and using two different electronic collection devices.

They say a review found increased traffic flows on Wellington Street North were from cut-through traffic, which can be defined as traffic that utilizes other roadways to bypass other roads, traffic congestion or as short cuts.

The data shows a correlation between southbound traffic and volume during the day periods where the data was collected. These counts are significantly higher than correlating northbound traffic, which is related to cut-through traffic.

As a result, the closure will utilize traffic delineators at the intersection of Manitoba Street (Muskoka Road 4) and Wellington Street North to stop traffic movements.

Additional signage will be placed in advance of the closure to provide notice to the motoring public.

The town says it will monitor the results and continue to take input from citizens.

If traffic is reduced without negatively impacting neighbouring local roadways, the closure will be made permanent.

A town handout shows the intersection at Wellington Street North and Manitoba Street North, which will see “traffic-calming” barriers put up for the summer in a test to prevent “cut-throughs” in the neighbourhood known as “Snob Hill” in Bracebridge.

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