Bowness residents voice safety concerns over new roundabout close to homes

A new roundabout in Bowness built within a few metres of a townhouse complex has residents worried about the potential for vehicles crashing into their homes, as well as posing a risk for pedestrians.

The roundabout, situated where Sarcee Trail meets 34th Avenue N.W., is part of big changes to the location around the old Sunnyside garden centre site, which includes a new big box retail area and other developments.

People living on the edges of the roundabout say it's too close to their homes and an unprotected, narrow section of sidewalk.

They're asking the City of Calgary to install protective measures to shield them from the traffic.

"We're very much a front porch family," said Eve Dejeet, who moved into her home a year ago. "But watching the vehicles fly by, hitting the curb at times, it just doesn't feel right."

"I have a child sleeping in the entry level room, and my biggest fear is that one night I wake up with a car in there with them," she said.

Dejeet wants a safety barrier installed so her family and others can enjoy their front decks and grassy area at the front of their homes. 

Other concerns are the new school year starting at the nearby Our Lady of the Assumption School just down the road and an increase in traffic as a new Superstore and other retail shops start opening.

"The plan was shown to us prior to construction, but what they built was completely different," said Michel Bourque, who has lived in the area for five years and has a young family. 

"Last winter, we watched drivers slide off the road. My neighbour and her dog almost got hit. Now it's summer they're flying through here, and when we're outside with our family it's terrifying," said Bourque. 

Bourque says he's worried there's nothing in place to stop a vehicle if the driver loses control on the roundabout. 

"We want the concrete pillars with a chain link or concrete blocks, big blocks, anything to stop a car from exiting the road — which they should have thought about when they designed it," he said. "We just want to be heard."

Others in the community are backing the residents in calling for safety improvements.

"I drive that road every day and that road scares me. It's sloped funny. It's way too close to the townhomes, and I would be beside myself if that was in front of my house," said Bowness resident Shauna Easthope. 

"I personally think they need to move the traffic circle," said Easthope.

"There needs to be bollards or other safety measures," said Nathan Mizera, who runs DiscoverBowness.com, an online platform highlighting community issues in Bowness.

"Safety is paramount and there are issues with the speed and an increase in traffic. Also, the school is back in September," said Mizera.

The City of Calgary says the roundabout doesn't pose any safety issues for the townhouse residents and it doesn't plan on changing anything.

"We know that modern roundabouts are some of our safest and best performing intersections," said Tony Churchill, co-ordinator of mobility safety with the City of Calgary. "The likelihood of vehicles going off and ending up in those houses is much lower with a roundabout."

Churchill says vehicles that crash on roundabouts usually do so on the inside of the roundabout or while leaving the roundabout. He says pavement markings and new signs are still being installed, making the roundabout even safer.

"We're monitoring it closely and we're aware of the concerns, but we don't anticipate that this is creating any greater risk than a conventional intersection would," said Churchill.

Residents say they'll keep on pushing the city and their local councillor to make changes to the roundabout.