Dangerous intersection is back on city council’s agenda

Moose Jaw City Council will look at its next steps regarding the intersection of Highway 1 and Ninth Avenue Northwest at tonight’s meeting at city hall. 

During city’s council’s regular meeting on Sept. 26, a resolution was passed to notify the Ministry of Highways that it supports business owners on North Service Road in asking for vehicle-actuated traffic lights at the intersection as a temporary measure until a corridor planning study can be completed. 

The city sent the letter to the Ministry of Highways on Sept. 28, and received a reply on Oct. 19 saying that the ministry agrees that safety is a top priority, however, the corridor study is being completed and the concept of traffic lights will be included and considered but lights will not be installed immediately. 

City administration will make the recommendation to communicate to the Saskatchewan Government that there is an urgent need for the safety and growth of the city for traffic lights to be installed at that intersection as soon as possible. 

The Sept. 26 resolution included the intersection of Thatcher Drive and Highway 1, which administration is recommending can wait until the corridor study is completed. 

City council will also discuss holding town hall meetings with North Service Road business owners, the Moose Jaw and District Chamber of Commerce, other municipalities and first responders to discuss the need for traffic lights at Highway 1 and Ninth Avenue and develop a public awareness campaign. 

Also on the agenda, a representative from The Estates at Creekstone will address city council to discuss concerns about standing water issues. 

In August, the city received a letter from a resident, on behalf of the condo board, requesting to have sump pump water redirected into the city’s sewer system. 

That request was denied because, according to The Building Bylaw, “No person shall construct downspouts or a drainage system which drains storm drainage into the city’s sanitary sewer system” and “drainage tile at the footing level of a basement is required to connect to a sump pit. The owner is responsible for pumping out the pit when necessary and discharging this water to the front or rear of the property.” 

The condo board made a request in September to address city council to ask for an exemption to allow three units to run their sump pumps into the sewer lines.  

Discover Moose Jaw will have full coverage of tonight’s meeting.