After 17 years, the temporary access road connecting Morello Place to Arden Road in Courtenay will be permanently closed on March 15.
The access road closure will affect Morello Place, Lambert Drive and Creekside Commons residents.
Kevin Lagan, director of operational services for the City of Courtenay, advised that the road, built on private property, has remained open all these years thanks to an agreement with the property owner.
“Back when the neighbourhood was developed in 1996, we arranged to install this temporary access road over a private lot to allow traffic to flow onto Morello Place and Lambert Drive,” explained Lagan. “This was conditional on the eventual development of other property and the extension of Lambert Drive to 20th Street.
"That work didn’t end up taking place until 2011 and 2012. Now that it’s done, we must honour our agreement and return the land to the control of the property owner.”
Traffic heading into and out of the neighbourhood will now be required to use the Lambert Drive connection at 20th Street. The City is notifying neighbourhood residents, emergency services and utility companies of the traffic pattern change. Signage is also being installed at both ends of the temporary access road.
Lagan noted that preparations to build an additional road connection are in the works. “Later in 2013, a new development on Lambert Drive will include a connection to Arden Road, opposite Slade Road.”
Also, any future applications for development at the end of Morello Place would need to include an additional pedestrian connection.
“This is a requirement of our Official Community Plan,” said Lagan. “We require walkways at the end of cul-de-sacs in order to provide connectivity throughout neighbourhoods. Our goal is to ensure people have easy access throughout their neighbourhood, whether they’re travelling by car, bike or on foot.”
For more information, contact the City’s Engineering Division at 250-334-4441 or visit www.courtenay.ca.
— City of Courtenay