EDITORIAL – Traffic issues – simple and cheap is often the best way to go
(Image: City of Kamloops)
An editorial by Mel Rothenburger.
SIMPLE SOLUTIONS are often the best ones. That’s the case, at least, when it comes to traffic problems.
An example of that is the pilot project at the south end of Overlanders Bridge. A little over a month ago the City decided to try changing the access onto the bridge from Mission Flats and Summit Drive.
For years, drivers coming from that direction had to deal with a traffic light at the on-ramp. When it was red, traffic would back up. During rush hour in particular, traffic from Summit would sometimes stretch more than a kilometre, reaching all the way up the hill.
Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops and a retired newspaper editor. He is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a director on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
As I suggested to Mr. Kwiatkowski, this idea could show different results when we have snow and icy conditions on the bridge. When coming from downtown, all traffic is routed into the passing/fast lane on the bridge. Now, when road conditions are close to ideal and the pavement is dry, the swing to the right in the fast lane can be done with a reasonable level of safety.
If the roadway is icy (black ice is common in that shaded section of roadway), there is an increased chance of a vehicle sliding to the left into the path of oncoming traffic.
This idea should have been tried in winter conditions.