City of Greater Sudbury Transportation Study Report

A truck bypass is required for a number of reasons:
To reduce conflicts between truck and auto traffic on LaSalle Boulevard and the
Kingsway, each of which is a major commercial street;
To improve traffic operations of LaSalle Boulevard and the Kingsway; and
To minimize the degradation of the road structure, and reduce the rate of pavement
damage being incurred on LaSalle Boulevard as a result of truck traffic. This has the
potential to create a safety problem.
East-west traffic capacity is also required in this area, which is constrained by both
topography and the absence of opportunity to add other roads. All traffic crossing the
northern section of the City is currently restricted to either LaSalle Boulevard or the
Kingsway, the only two major through routes north of Ramsey Lake. Existing traffic
demand exceeds the capacity of these two roads.
The analysis presented in the in Maley Drive Extension Class Environmental Assessment
Report indicated that the Maley Drive Extension and the reconstruction of existing Maley
Drive is the alternative, which best meets these needs. Analysis undertaken during
completion of this study confirmed these findings.
LaSalle Boulevard, from 0.3 kilometres west of Notre Dame Avenue to just east of the
CPR Overhead is basically a two-lane road. On either side of this section, LaSalle
Boulevard is a four-lane road. LaSalle Boulevard is currently operating at or near
capacity during peak periods through this short section. With continued growth in traffic
volumes, this section will experience capacity problems if no improvements are made.
By widening this section to four lanes, it will operate at a satisfactory level of service
throughout the planning horizon.
4. MR 55 between Big Nickel Mine Drive and Highway 17 and the Southwest Bypass
between Long Lake Road and MR 55
MR 55 between Big Nickel Mine Drive and Highway 17 is approaching capacity during
peak periods under existing conditions. If no improvements are made, continued growth
in the mining industry and residential development in Lively will increase traffic volumes
on this road to undesirable levels by 2021. In addition, the Southwest Bypass is
forecasted to be operating above capacity by 2021 if no improvements are made to it.
Both of these deficiencies are related to the lack of east-west capacity in the west end of
the city.
MR 55 is a four-lane high-speed arterial road. Widening this road to six lanes will not
address the capacity problem on the Southwest bypass, as this traffic is typically longer
distance through traffic and truck traffic that should not infiltrate the city to get to MR 55.
The widening of the Southwest Bypass to four lanes, combined with the planned
improvements to Long Lake Road, will attract some local traffic as traffic volumes grow
on MR 55. This will provide greater overall benefits to the transportation network in the
area, and will service a significantly larger number of vehicles, including long distance
truck traffic.
CITY OF GREATER SUDBURY
OFFICIAL PLAN BACKGROUND REPORT
September 2005 Page 68