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The City of Regina says projects are in the pipeline to address traffic congestion on Arcola Avenue as the southeast part of the city continues to grow.
Several proposals came out of a 2021 study, published in 2022, conducted by consultant KGS. Among them were widening Arcola Avenue, improving the Arcola and Assiniboine interchanges on Ring Road, and a connecting Prince of Wales Drive with Wascana Parkway.
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It’s that last one that has raised controversy in recent months. A group of residents says any extension of Prince of Wales Drive would threaten the McKell Wascana Conservation Park. They also worry about increased traffic near W.S. Hawrylak School.
Evan Guenther, the city’s acting director of sustainable infrastructure, says those concerns will be looked at as part of a functional study scheduled to happen this year.
“Looking at route options, our environmental and regulatory requirements, our floodplain and land needs impacts to the surrounding neighbourhood, and also the other surrounding landowners as well,” he explained.
“Design and construction would proceed only if the project proves feasible and obviously, if council approves those future budgets.”
Others who will be included due to potential impacts are the Provincial Capital Commission, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, the Wascana Golf and Country Club, the R.M. of Sherwood, and the George Gordon First Nation, which owns the former Agriculture Canada land.
Guenther said the First Nation has been working on a neighbourhood plan that includes the extension. However, the land is located within the R.M. of Sherwood, outside city limits.
“(It’s) not necessarily within our our zone of control, but integrating the corridor through lands adjacent to the city is always mutually beneficial,” he said.
“The city will be collaborating with them and the R.M. on the alignment and right of way needs and engagement will acknowledge traditional territory and authority and commit to a respectful dialogue.”
He said there is a reserved right-of-way adjacent to the conservation park for the road itself, but couldn’t speculate on the exact route, or what the impacts on the conservation park might be until the study is complete.
“Environmental sustainability is a key principle for the City of Regina and we’ll be sure to adhere to that as well.”
Guenther said one item on the list planned for 2027 is the addition of an on-ramp from Assiniboine Avenue to Ring Road northbound. It’s in the detailed design phase now.
Another proposal that’s been put on hold is improvements to the Park Street intersection. Guenther explained it will be timed to coincide with underground infrastructure work.
When prioritizing these projects, Guenther said it’s not just about congestion; safety is emphasized.
“We prioritize locations with higher collision histories and make sure that these safety improvements are implemented, because the safety is the number one priority,” he explained.
“Improved safety reduces congestion because there’s less pausing for accidents and what have you. But that’s really the key kind of factor in all of this work.”
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