Engineer presents realignment plan for Bruce County Road 1 through Lucknow

The Bruce County highways department has a plan to realign Bruce County Road 1 through Lucknow.

Engineer Brian Knox brought that proposal to Huron-Kinloss council at its committee-of-the-whole meeting Monday morning.

The plan calls for a curved roadway built to the east of the old grocery store. County Road 1 would veer from the north onto that curve, cross Campbell Street (Bruce County Road 86) and link to County Road 1 to the south, creating a proper intersection instead of the current "jog" in the road.



A proposal to realign Bruce County Road 1 through Lucknow

Knox said the cost would be about $1.5-million since the township would have to purchase property from the landowner of the old store, to make the project work. However, there are potential savings because a proposed pedestrian crosswalk in the downtown core would be moved to this newly-aligned intersection, complete with traffic signals.

He said the county would be on the hook for road work and the cost of the traffic lights, to the tune of $500,000, with the township paying the remainder.

"I'd like to see this realignment occur," said councillor Jim Hanna. "That's one of the most dangerous corners in our municipality. I would like to look at it further."

Knox said the market value assessment of the grocery store property is estimated at $585,000. He also understood that the township is considering a plan to shift the Lucknow water tower northwest of its current location, freeing up some municipal property there.

Councillor Don Murray asked if the curve for the realignment had to be as wide as indicated on the illustration.

"The curves are designed for traffic speeds of 50 km/h," said Knox.

"But the traffic still has to stop at that intersection," said Murray.

"I prefer what is proposed," said Hanna, "but I understand what Don (Murray) is saying, to move Ross Street to the west one lane and not take as big a chunk off the grocery store parking lot. That would be an easier sell. We would still have to purchase property, but not as much."

"We'll do some work on this and then bring it back to council," said Knox.