The proposed plan for the twinning of Boychuk Drive between 8th Street and Highway 16 originally included:

• Adding another lane of traffic in each direction to make Boychuk Drive a four-lane roadway
• Construction of a sound attenuation wall along a portion of Boychuk Drive
• Traffic and pedestrian control measures at intersections along Boychuk Drive
• The addition of a multi-use pathway

The Boychuk Drive Project is scheduled for construction between May 1 and October 31, 2010.  

Boychuk Drive Project -- Update (January 2010)

The City of Saskatoon held a public informational open house on December 1, 2009 to show the public the proposed construction along Boychuk Drive including roadway twinning, traffic control, sound attenuation and multi-use pathway.  The open house was well attended and more than 100 comment sheets were submitted. 

Key Issues

As a result of the feedback that has been received several significant changes to the project will be undertaken.

·          Sound Attenuation adjacent to Briarwood Neighbourhood

o   The sound attenuation wall that was proposed to replace the existing masonry wall was overwhelmingly rejected by the residents in Briarwood that are adjacent to Boychuk Drive.  As a result this proposal will no longer be pursued.

o   The City of Saskatoon has been evaluating alternative sound attenuation measures that may be successful at this location.  As well, an acoustical consultant has been hired to model the projected traffic volumes and associated sound levels.  A new proposal to address sound attenuation adjacent to Briarwood will be developed and further community consultation will occur at that time.

·         Sound Attenuation adjacent to Lakeridge Neighbourhood

o   Boychuk Drive adjacent to the Lakeridge Neighbourhood currently has an earth berm and wooden fence.  It was not proposed to place additional sound attenuation at this location.  An acoustical consultant has been hired to model the project traffic volumes and associated sound levels.  Further sound attenuation may be considered if this modelling show that there would be a need or benefit to further sound attenuation. 

·         Boychuk Drive Twinning

o   Boychuk Drive roadway twinning is necessary to accommodate projected future traffic volumes that are a result of our city growing.  Traffic volumes will grow as our population grows, not as a result of this twinning project. 

·         Traffic Signals at Briarwood Road (North) and Briarwood Road / Heritage Crescent

o   Stop sign traffic control that was proposed at these two intersections along Boychuk Drive.  We heard overwhelmingly that traffic signals were needed at these intersections in order to reduce delays to motorists crossing or turning onto Boychuk Drive and to improve safety for motorists and pedestrians using these intersections.  As a result, traffic signals will be installed at these two locations as a part of this project.

·         Truck Traffic and Speed Limits

o   Boychuk Drive is currently not a truck route but as an arterial street, trucks may use it if it is the shortest route between a truck route and their local delivery location.  There is no desire or intention to change Boychuk Drive to a truck route.

o   Boychuk Drive currently has a speed limit of 60 km/h as do most other limited access arterial streets in Saskatoon.  There are no plans to either raise or lower this speed limit as a result of this project.

The City of Saskatoon appreciates all of the feedback received regarding this project in order to make it the best that it can be for all residents.