Plans & Projects

SUMMARY & BACKGROUND

 As part of the 2023 budget process, Mayor, and Council authorized administration to undertake a competitive process to hire an engineering firm to provide a report regarding the functional design of 50th Street (Dick Damron Drive. The functional design is intended to review 50th Street from 50th avenue to 55th avenue and include a full review of the roadway and deep utilities.

This important corridor is the entertainment district of Bentley, providing access to the Arena, Curling Club, Blindman Agricultural Society and Morrisroe Recreation Area. It is also host to the Bentley Farmers Market and key events such as the Bentley Rodeo.

The town was interested in reconstructing the roadway to a full urban standard with consideration given to active transportation and the walkability of the pedestrian traffic along the corridor.

The Town hired association engineering after receiving and reviewing multiple quotes to ensure that the process was competitive, and value was obtained for the local taxpayer. A preliminary topographic survey was undertaken of the corridor to confirm the existing ground profiles, ditches and drainage patterns and the location of surface features, such as utility poles, driveways etc.

A public open house was held on June 14, 2023, to present the preliminary concept plan and design approach to solicit community feedback. The preliminary concept illustrated a narrowed roadway, parallel parking stalls for all parking areas, curb extensions at all intersections, a widened monolithic sidewalk along the west side of the corridor and a relocated sidewalk along the east side of the corridor. The plan also illustrated where opportunities existed to provide features, such as separate boulevards, expanded parking zones, and areas for furnishings and planting. Site constraints such as the existing lane and driveway access and the current alignment of the Fortis Poles were also identified as fixtures influencing the proposed design.

In addition to the open house, community feedback was obtained via a paper survey provided to each attendee, as well as a digital survey hosted on the Town’s website for a two-week period following the open house. The primary concerns raised by respondents included:

  • The condition of existing sidewalks
  • Occasional congestion
  • Lack of available parking
  • Lack of traffic calming
  • Residents told us that redesign should focus on a comfortable safe corridor for pedestrians who primarily use it for recreation and travel to local businesses and amenities.
  • Improvements such as wider sidewalks, shortened intersection crossings (curb extensions), upgraded lighting, and additional seating areas were identified as elements that should be considered in the redesign.
  • Residents also noted that additional parking stalls should be added where possible.to address congestion during events and in high traffic areas.

For the most part , residents were not in favour of a “themed” redevelopment and commented that the design approach should be uncomplicated and focused on replacing the aging infrastructure, ease of maintenance and also include more planting and natural materials.