Many businesses on the south side of 15th Street East are concerned about access to their stores, following the construction of a median in the middle of the street. (Dawson Thompson/paNOW Staff)

By Dawson Thompson

Construction Update

Median issues could prolong 15th Street East construction

Sep 14, 2021 | 5:00 PM

Earlier this summer, the City of Prince Albert installed a median in the middle of the roadway on 15th Street East.

Shortly after beginning the construction, city staff and council began to hear plenty of negative feedback from small business owners. A majority of the complaints revolved around limited access to their stores, the median caused.

The owners of Dr. Java’s Coffee House, Brandy and Chad Mogg spoke at Monday night’s city council meeting saying they are already seeing their business numbers quite a bit lower than what they used to be.

“Business in general, while going through a pandemic has been very hard,” Chad Mogg said.

Brandy Mogg, who is a part owner says business has been down 35 per cent since the construction began.

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“Further, on Sept. 9 we had the KidSport fundraiser in our parking lot, and they were down 50 per cent in donations this year. The head guy that was there commented on how drastic it was and how much of a difference he sees for our business and the fundraiser with people not able to get across.”

KidSport was able to raise $4,600 during their scissor lift fundraiser last week. Their goal was $8,000.

Tom McKay, the owner of the Great Canadian Oil Change also spoke at the meeting and agreed, business was better for them prior to the median being installed.

“Everything was fine the way it was, why waste all that money if you’re going to vote to maybe take all that stuff out,” McKay said.

After hearing the negative feedback, and seeing the difficulties the median creates, the city provided four different options regarding changes to the construction.

Option one for the 15th Street East roadway construction. (City of PA Agenda)

Option one provides the most expensive change to the median. It is budgeted for $320,000 and would see the the installation of two traffic lights.

Option two for the 15th Street East roadway construction. (City of PA Agenda)

Option two has the second highest cost associated with it, at $150,000. This option would see a portion of the median removed and the slip lane changed to a yield lane.

Option three for the 15th Street East roadway construction. (City of PA Agenda)

Option three is budgeted for $50,000 and would see the addition of an extra u-turn lane installed.

Option four for the 15th Street East roadway construction. (City of PA Agenda)

Option four would see everything remain the same and there would be no additional cost.

After seeing the four different options, Mayor Greg Dionne suggested no changes are made right now, and would like to see further research made first.

He proposed that the traffic flow on 15th Street East be monitored over the next six months to see if there is a difference.

“I don’t see any harm in leaving everything the way it is for a little while and monitor it and ask them to come back to us in six months, and give us a report on your sales,” Dionne said. “We don’t know what’s going to happen, it’s all hypothetical.”

This idea got shut down as well, as many councilors said six months is too long, and the winter traffic flow could screw up the data.

After saying no to multiple options, and still wanting to do something to positively deal with the situation, a motion was made by councillor Ted Zurakowski.

He made a motion that administration come back to council with a design that reflects an opening in the median in front of 463 – 15th Street East for the next city council meeting. The next meeting is on Sept. 27.

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Dawson.thompson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @dawsonthompson8