CARBONEAR, N.L. — The Town of Carbonear has awarded a contract to start work on improvements to Columbus Drive designed to accommodate increased traffic resulting from new business development.
Eric Taylor Limited was awarded a $393,153.95 contract at the June 11 council meeting for infrastructure improvements on the south end of the road just before the lights intersecting with Fox Farm Road and Powell Drive. The tender is for the construction of an access point for new retail development that started earlier this year with the opening of a Dairy Queen restaurant on Columbus Drive.
According to the town, the access that exists was approved as a temporary access only. The new access will require a left-turning lane heading north. To do this, the highway will be widened and islands will be constructed for the eventual placement of traffic lights similar to those at the Powell Drive-Fox Farm Road-Columbus Drive Intersection.
A number of undeveloped lots remain available to lease adjacent to the Dairy Queen. This area, located south of Canadian Tire, for years was a 70-kilometres-per-hour zone for traffic, but has since been reduced to 50-kilometres-per-hour in light of retail development planned for the area. Last May, the town approved a $44,725 expenditure for Harbourside Transportation Consultants to complete preliminary and detailed design work for the widening of Columbus Drive and Powell Drive.
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