The city's operations committee will decide next week just how fast you'll be able to travel on the Maley Drive Extension.
The $80-million project, which connects Maley Drive to the Lasalle extension, is set to open to traffic by the end of 2019. Before then, city councillors have to set speed limits for the roadway.
A staff report headed to the committee Monday says part of the road is designed for speeds up to 100 km/hr, while the section closer to urban areas is designed for 80 km/hr.
“It is common practice that jurisdictions design roads for 20 km/h over the anticipated posted speed limit for rural connecting roads (ex. Municipal Road 35 or Municipal Road 80) and 10 km/h for roads within a more densely developed area,” the report says. “This difference between the design speed and posted speed limit introduces a factor of safety during periods when driving conditions are not optimal, like during inclement weather, as well as anticipates that a percentage of vehicles will always travel in excess of the posted speed limit.”
So the rural area of the extension, from Barrydowne Road to Lasalle, would have a speed limit of 80 km, dropping to 70 km/hr along the Lansing Avenue to Barrydowne section. The area from National Street to Falconbridge Road would have a limit of 60 km/hr.
In addition, horizontal curves have been included in the design as drivers approach the four roundabouts that are part of the extension. The aim is to have the design of the road naturally slow drivers as they near the new-to-Sudbury roundabouts, where the speed limit will be 30 km/hr.
In addition to the speed limits and other traffic bylaws necessary before the road opens, the public is being invited to walk along a three-kilometre stretch on Sunday.
“Walk, bike, rollerblade or meander on the new Maley Drive before it opens,” the city said in a news release. “This is your opportunity to get active on a three-km stretch of a freshly paved Maley Drive between Barrydowne Road and the Notre Dame Avenue overpass.”
The event runs from 1-3 p.m. The public can enter the area at the Barrydowne/Maley intersection.
“Everyone is encouraged to take GOVA to the event,” the release said. “Just tell the bus operator that you’re going to Beat The Traffic and you’ll ride for free. Transfer at the New Sudbury Transit Hub at the New Sudbury Centre and board the charter bus to head to and from the event.”
Parking is available on the north side of Maley Drive between Barrydowne and the NORCAT entrance.
Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.
