Kelowna traffic suggestions

Re. Traffic issues in Kelowna south of Highway 97

In an effort to help move the high volume of traffic towards Highway 97 (in Kelowna) in a more efficient manner, I feel that Pandosy Street (traffic moving) towards the highway needs to have a centre lane of alternate traffic using traffic lights.

Because we can’t widen Pandosy, having two lanes flowing towards the highway during peak times would dramatically help alleviate congestion, just like the former three-lane Okanagan Lake Floating Bridge used to have.

In my plan, the left-turn lanes would turn into a full lane of traffic during 8 a.m. to 10 a.m and then again from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

It’s a very cost effective approach and can be installed with very little traffic disruption.

During peak times, the left-turn lanes on Pandosy would simply change to full lanes heading towards the highway and then reappear during slower times of the day, all by the use of alternating traffic lights.

Yes, there are a few simple obstacles to deal with like the block-and-a-half bike lane that was built onto the roadway from Sutherland Avenue to the lake but that could simply be moved up onto a widened and shared-use sidewalk like in other areas of town.

Also, a few major left-turn lanes, such as the one at Cadder would have to be dropped during the peak times and doing that would work with the city’s plans to have people use alternate routes.

During the peak times, instead of turning onto Pandosy and then left at Cadder, vehicles would continue on Highway 97 to Richter Street, where they could then move over to Cadder. It’s important to not disrupt the flow in front of Kelowna General Hospital at this time, so I would suggest the plan start with the alternating lights beginning at Royal Avenue (to the highway) for the first year and see how that goes.

If these changes help, but don’t completely solve the backlog from the KLO/Cedar/Lakeshore intersection to the highway, the city could extend the alternating lanes further back towards Wardlaw or Osprey.

To supporters of the left-turn lanes, I would simply say the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. The traffic backlog and tie-ups on Pandosy need to be dealt with immediately in preparation for the increase in traffic from the Caban, Movala, Parc, Alma on Abbott, Aqua and Ledge on Lakeshore (residential) projects and all the other developments being built in the area.

This problem is getting worse by the day and we need an immediate plan like this to help traffic flow.

Bill Ferguson