81 high risk accident sites in the streets of Sherbrooke
The intersection of King Ouest and Belvédère streets is a priority for road safety interventions.
Share October 6, 2020 12:09 am Updated at 6:05 am Share 81 high risk accident sites in the streets of Sherbrooke
Jonathan Custeau La Tribune SHERBROOKE – An analysis of road accidents that occurred on the territory of the City of Sherbrooke between 2012 and 2016 made it possible to target 81 sites at high risk of accidents. If 28 of them have already undergone interventions, it will probably be necessary to set aside more than $ 5 million to correct the dangerous situations for 35 sites deemed to be priorities.
This analysis was carried out as part of the Municipal Road Safety Intervention Plan (PISRMM), a plan that covers streets under municipal jurisdiction. In other words, the provincial roads were not included. The aim is to reduce the number of accidents. The City received a budget of $ 125,000 from the Ministère des Transports for its work. The content of the report was accepted by the MTQ in June, so that the City will be able to apply for subsidies for its road interventions in 2021-2022, subsidies that could reach 75% of the planned budget. The 2020-2021 envelope is already exhausted.
For the targeted period, 9,090 accidents were listed in Sherbrooke, including 8,400 that could be located with precision.
Sébastien Dubuc, municipal engineering project engineer at the City of Sherbrooke, explains a 46% decrease in the number of accidents from 2012 to 2016, among other things because the Sherbrooke police department stopped traveling for material damage in 2015. He specifies that 80% of accidents resulted in material damage and that only 1% of accidents resulted in serious injuries. For the targeted period, eight fatalities occurred on the road. A quarter of accidents with injuries involve drivers aged between 16 and 24.
Among the 35 sites * that were the subject of an in-depth analysis and an action plan drawn up, 30 were selected by the City and 5 by the partners. If we estimate the cost of the work for the entire plan at $ 5.5 million, we add that the accuracy of this estimate is 50%.
Among the sites chosen by the City, the intersection of King Ouest and Alexandre streets ranks high in terms of priorities, in front of the Jacques-Cartier Nord and Beloeil intersection, at the exit of the Terrases Jacques-Cartier shopping center, and the corner of McManamy and Kingston streets. For sites chosen by third parties, the King Ouest and Belvédère intersection is ahead of all others.
Mr. Dubuc explains that the in-depth analyzes made it possible to obtain very useful details on the interventions suggested. For example, at the corner of Jacques-Cartier Boulevard and Beloeil Street, 39 accidents were recorded, the majority of them occurring in February. The accident rate is five times higher than the rate considered critical.
“The recommendations may be to prohibit the left turn or to close the median there. We could also put up fences because pedestrians do not cross at the intersection. “
Ditto in the section of King Street West located between Argyll and Metcalfe streets where the possibility of adding a median or a left turn lane could be explored. “There is also a bit of speed in this area, so we suggest maintaining police surveillance, adding an educational radar and even adding a central fence to prevent pedestrians from crossing in the wrong place,” says Mr. Dubuc.
To date, of the 81 sites identified as posing the greatest risks, 16 still require study.
However, carrying out these studies does not constitute an obligation for the City to carry out interventions on the sites concerned.
Several elected officials expressed their fears in front of some of the proposals. Chantal L'Esperance, for example, is worried about the possibility of adding medians. She recalls the outcry caused by a similar idea on Galt Street West, near the Sherbrooke Center. “I want us to work upstream to meet all of our needs and those of traders. Wanting to make the solution concrete can create a problem elsewhere. “
Marc Denault, for his part, wants more pedestrians to be made safer at the intersection of rue Wigget and boulevard Jacques-Cartier. He also noted that U-turns should not be allowed in several places and wanted a completely protected crossing at the corner of King West and Carillon streets for pedestrian safety.
Julien Lachance would also like us to take an interest in the traffic lanes belonging to the MTQ, in particular the Chemin de Saint-Élie, in his district.
Paul Gingues is disappointed to see that no grant is available for 2020-2021. Rémi Demers also asks if the City took it too late to ask for financial assistance.
Sébastien Dubuc replied that the City had to first obtain the approval of the MTQ, which was done in June, of the public security committee, which was done in August, and of the municipal council before proceeding. “The grant envelope was closed in August for 2020-2021. “
Note that Mr. Gingues hopes for a rapid intervention at the corner of rue Galt Ouest and boulevard de l'Université and would like us to take an interest in the danger on boulevard de l'Université de Sherbrooke in the sector of rue Gagnon, Émilienne. -Dubé, Indiana and Illinois.
* Priority sites chosen by the City
1. King West / Alexander
2. Jacques-Cartier North / Beloeil
3. McManamy / Kingston
4. King West section, from Vimy to Argyll
5. Queen-Victoria / des Sables
6. McManamy / Larocque
7. Int. Council / 11th Avenue South
8. Belvédère Sud section, from McManamy to King-George
9. Papineau / 10th Avenue North
10. King East / 14th Avenue South
11. Belvédère Nord section, from Marquette to Frontenac
12. Jacques-Cartier Sud / Wigget
13. Galt West / Cabana
14. Galt West / Saint-Louis
15. King Est section, from Alphonse-Laramée to Thérèse-Lefebvre
16. Council / 10th Avenue South
17. King West / Victoria
18. King West / Metcalfe
19. Galt West / Saint-Antoine
20. McManamy / Fairmount
21 McManamy section, from Galt West to Fairmount
22 King West section, from Wood to Jacques-Cartier
23. South Belvedere / Short
24. South Belvedere / King-George
25. Kennedy North / Eymard
26. Dunant / Kingston
27. Terrill / Lomer-Gouin
28. Galt East / Lecours
29. Dufferin / Abenaki
30. Saint-Roch North / Lefebvre
Priority sites chosen by partners
1. King West / Belvedere
2. Galt West / University
3. King East / Murray / Papineau
4. Alexandre / Ball
5. Papineau / 8th Avenue North
