Saskatoon city council approves west side intersection upgrades to stop drivers from taking shoulder

A Saskatoon intersection where drivers often take the shoulder to bypass traffic backlogs was approved for upgrades at city council.

On Wednesday, council approved new functional designs to the 22nd Street and Confederation Drive intersection, aimed at helping the flow of traffic.

The report before council was largely focused on the Fairmont Drive access, which allows vehicles to get onto 22nd Street. 

The report said traffic frequently backs up from the Confederation Drive intersection past the Fairmont Drive access, and drivers are bypassing the traffic by taking a shoulder to get to the Circle Drive on-ramp.

The report also highlighted drivers coming from Fairmont Drive weaving through three lanes on 22nd Street to make the left turn onto Confederation Drive.

According to 2019 to 2023 data from the city, there were 188 crashes at the 22nd Street and Confederation intersection in that timeframe, but none at the intersection of 22nd Street and Fairmont Drive.

"While the data cannot determine the exact number of collisions that occurred due to weaving from the Fairmont Drive intersection, eastbound traffic accounted for a disproportionately high percentage of side swipe and rear end collisions," the report stated.

"Eastbound traffic made up 32 per cent of the total number of collisions while only accounting for 25 per cent of the traffic volume."

There have been no fatal collisions at the intersections, but there have been 40 minor injuries.

Council also green-lit changing Fairmont Drive's existing right turn out, to a right turn in. It also approved a slotted left turn lane on the east bound lane at the 22nd Street and Confederation Drive intersection.

A shared use pathway will also be added on the south side of 22nd Street between Diefenbaker Drive and Confederation Drive.

While the $2.97-million functional designs are approved, the construction won't start until money is available for it. Until then, the unfunded project will stay on the list of prioritized transportation projects waiting for money.

The city says it will try to leverage provincial grants, like Saskatchewan Government Insurance safety grants.