Sydney River's Kings Road to be subject of traffic study

The Nova Scotia Department ofTransportation is looking at ways to relieve traffic congestion and reduce accidents on Kings Roadin Sydney River.

Twenty-two thousand vehicles travel Kings Road to get to the Sydney downtown each day.

"It's always busy" saysCity Wide Taxi driver Daniel Dickey. "Acouple of sets of lights wouldn't hurt, here and there."

Other motorists complain about how difficult it is to make a left-hand turn.

The departmentis looking at solvingthese problems.District directorGerard Jessome saidthey may reduce and consolidate some entrances.

"Of course we'll have to work very closely with all the stakeholders and businesses in the area before we could do anything like that," he said.

Subdivision development in communities such as Coxheath, Westmountand Sydney River hasmeant steadily increasing traffic in recent years.

Jessome saidhe has already met with officials from the Breton Ability Centreto discuss a proposed new housing development there.It will includecommercial space, along with housing for seniors and people with disabilities.

"It's actually timely for us since it all fits in with our own planning,"Jessomesaid.

He saida number of options will be considered, including more traffic lights, roundaboutsand a left-turning lane.

He saidthe department is in the earlystages of looking at the issues, so it will be a couple of years before work will begin.