Public ‘pleased’ with casino traffic plan

NEWS — A new traffic plan for the area around a proposed Aberdeen casino appears to be finding favour with the public, says a report to City council.

The staff report will go to council for consideration at a public hearing Tuesday on a proposal from Gateway Casinos and Entertainment to overhaul the former Rona building at 1555 Versatile Drive for a casino. It would replace the Lake City Casino on Victoria Street.

A traffic plan worked out between City staff and Gateway would include a roundabout at the intersection of Hugh Allan Drive and Versatile Drive, changes to nearby highway access ramps, new signals and other improvements.

The report says open houses last week attracted about 125 people, mostly from Aberdeen, Pineview Valley and the downtown area. Of the 57 feedback forms filled out at the open houses, 54 were in favour of the move and three were undecided.

“The majority of respondents were pleased to see a proposed traffic solution,” says the report submitted by development and engineering services director Marvin Kwiatkoswki. He says the City and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure are also satisfied with it.

In addition to the open-house feedback forms, the City has received nine letters for the public hearing, six of them in favour of the casino’s move.

The staff report expands on details of the traffic plan displayed at the open houses. The main feature of the plan, the roundabout, would be a single lane with a westbound right “slip-by” lane to northbound Versatile Drive.

The eastbound turn lane from Hugh Allan Drive to the Trans Canada Highway eastbound on-ramp would be widened, and a second westbound travel lane along Hugh Allen between Pacific Way and the highway eastbound ramp would be added. Other ramp improvements would also be done, and a signal would be installed at the intersection of Copperhead Drive and Versatile Drive.

Pedestrian and bicycle improvements would be included. Gateway has also committed to providing an hourly shuttle service from nearby hotels.

City staff earlier recommended rejection of the rezoning needed for the Rona property to be used for a casino, but council approved the public hearing, set for 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Kamloops Coast Hotel and Convention Centre.