New Charlottetown roundabout planned

Charlottetown city council is considering plans for a new roundabout at the east end of Belvedere Ave, at a spot where five streets come together.

Aaron Jarvis, who works at the Esso on that corner, will be happy to see changes.

"I've seen, I don't know how many accidents the last seven years here," said Jarvis.

It's problem Melissa Hilton, the councillor for the area, is well aware of.

"A lot of people do try to avoid that intersection and actually use Duncan Heights and go down to Brows [Lane] onto Kensington Road," said Hilton.

Council saw plans for a new roundabout at its council meeting this week, presented by consultants hired last summer. The plan will require some land acquisition, about 1,000 square metres, from Vogue Optical, Leons and Esso.

Hilton said the plans should make access to the businesses better.

"You'll be able to actually enter and exit the businesses easier and I think the whole flow of traffic will just improve in that area," said Hilton.

The three businesses affected agree the current intersection is confusing for customers, and they're on board with the roundabout.

"I think it's a good idea. That area, that corner has been a nightmare for years for a lot of drivers," said Leons general manager Glenn Mahar.

Mahar is concerned about having to give up some parking space, and losing business during construction.

"We'd just like to be part of it, and understand the system, and how it works, and what we're going to do to make this work for us," he said.

The Esso will be giving up the largest piece of land. The regional manager said he'll have to figure out where to dump the snow from his parking lot.

The project is expected to cost about $3 million. There has not been a vote on building it yet, and the next step would be to acquire the land.

Barring opposition, the roundabout will likely be built in 2012.