The United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry has partnered with the Municipality of South Dundas and senior levels of government to undertake its largest construction project of 2021.
Work has begun on the Morrisburg roundabout, a $5-million project that is partially funded by the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, as well as the Counties and South Dundas.
The work will consist of the removal of the lighted intersection at County Roads 31 and 2 and the creation of a roundabout, similar in scope to the roundabouts that were created in Iroquois and Long Sault. In addition, there will be asphalt milling, full and partial depth asphalt removal, grading and drainage work, installation of concrete medians at the roundabout, sidewalks, and hot mix asphalt paving.
The road work is expected to be largely completed by Oct. 29. 2021. Final landscaping work and clean-up is likely to take place in spring 2022.
Traffic will continue in and around the work site; however motorists can expect lane reductions and slow downs. On weekends, and by end of day each day, two-lane traffic will be restored. Traffic will be able to access all businesses.
Counties staff have been in touch with business and property owners affected by the construction to advise of the scope of work and timelines. This will continue throughout the project as updates become available.
Based on the current cost apportioning, SDG is responsible for approximately 84 per cent of the project costs and South Dundas is responsible for 16 per cent of project costs. Generally, South Dundas is responsible for all costs associated with pedestrian facilities, half of the cost of the landscaping elements and centre roundabout features, the incremental costs associated with the decorative light fixtures and all costs for the lighting/electrical elements solely benefitting the pedestrian facilities.
SDG’s Budget Shortfall
SDG’s budget shortfall for this project is currently estimated at $440,000, which includes $200,000 in project contingencies.
Fortunately, SDG is in a strong financial position and can accommodate this shortfall with existing reserves and 2021 project surpluses. Council will make a final decision on exactly how to offset the project shortfall in late 2021 (after 2021 expenses have been finalized).
Roundabouts
Roundabouts have a number of benefits over traditional intersections, including :
- Safety: lower speeds and fewer points of conflict between vehicles reduces the potential for serious crashes and injury
- Lower speeds: unlike at a green light at an intersection, vehicles need to slow down to use a roundabout, reducing the likelihood of a serious crash
- Higher capacity: a high volume of vehicles turning left is handled better by a roundabout than by a left-turn signal at a traditional intersection
- Fewer stops and shorter delays: yielding at the entry of a roundabout takes less time than waiting for a green light at an intersection or for a gap in traffic at a stop sign
- Less idling and air pollution: fewer delays reduces fuel consumption and improves air quality by reducing emissions
- Lower maintenance costs: roundabouts eliminate maintenance and electricity costs associated with traffic signals
- Aesthetically pleasing: there is an opportunity for landscaping within the central island of a roundabout