Council votes down circle, decides to upgrade traffic signals
By MICHAEL LIGHTSTONE City Hall Reporter
Wed. Jun 16 - 4:53 AM
A proposed roundabout for north-end Halifax is dead.
Regional council Tuesday killed the planned project, which had been destined for an intersection near the Devonshire Arena.
Council made the move after Coun. Jerry Blumenthal (Halifax North End) presented a motion to have city staff abandon the idea in favour of upgrading or replacing aging signal lights there.
The north-end traffic circle idea was ditched despite council’s approval in principle weeks ago of roundabouts in Halifax. Blumenthal has said building such a traffic-control structure in his area would have cost a minimum of $1 million.
Though councillors still support the construction of roundabouts, they recognized the strong opposition in the city’s north end to having one at the intersection of Novalea Drive, Duffus Street and Devonshire Avenue. Blumenthal presented council with a petition of more than 360 names signed by people who attended a heated public meeting on the issue earlier this month.
In a letter to Mayor Peter Kelly and council dated Monday, a Novalea Drive resident said municipal staff were off course regarding the need for a roundabout in her district.
"The recommendation of a roundabout at this location is overkill for a problem that doesn’t exist," Michelle Margolian said in her letter.
Blumenthal said public opinion in his area is firmly against a roundabout being built.
Tuesday’s sudden stop by council followed remarks by Coun. Linda Mosher (Purcells Cove-Armdale), who said city hall entered into the north-end roundabout controversy without properly consulting the public.
Staff initially proposed six months ago that a traffic circle be built at the intersection. The plan was part of a formal proposal request from Halifax Regional Municipality that neither the residents nor their councillor, Blumenthal, knew about.
In other business, council honoured dozens of young people at a city hall ceremony Tuesday evening. According to a city release, 48 "outstanding youth" were presented with 2010 citi)zenship awards for their commitment to their communities and school work.
"The recipients are chosen by teachers and principals based on demonstrated qualities of good citizenship," the release says. "Those chosen have shown that they not only excel academically but are also committed to giving back to their school and their community at large."
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