The Highway 12 and Highway 20 Roundabout Public Information Website is now closed. We thank you for your input.
Introduction
Welcome to the Highway 20 &12 Roundabout Public Information website. This website is intended to provide information on the proposed roundabout planned for the intersection of Highway 20 and Highway 12, west of Bentley. Construction is tentatively planned for the Spring/Summer of 2022.
Please take a moment to view the information below including a project flyover and traffic simulation of the proposed roundabout.
The Question/Comment period is now close. We thank you for your input. Please see the questions/comments section at the bottom of the webpage for additional information and responses to Questions/Comments received.
Project Overview
Alberta Transportation is planning to construct a single lane roundabout at the intersection of Highway 20 and Highway 12, west of Bentley to improve traffic safety and traffic capacity.
An Intersection Analysis and Roundabout Feasibility Study was completed in 2019. The objective of the study was to determine improvements that optimize traffic safety and operations based on a cost-benefit and lifecycle-cost analysis. The study confirmed that safety improvements were warranted at this intersection. A Roundabout was determined to be the most appropriate intersection type due to improved safety and increased overall traffic capacity versus a signalized intersection.
Project Considerations
Traffic Safety and Performance: An In-Service Road Safety Review of the intersection was undertaken as part of the Intersection Analysis and Roundabout Study to assess existing safety conditions and identify opportunities for improvements in traffic operations and safety. Based on the findings of the study, upgrades to the existing intersection were warranted. Alberta Transportation's current policy is to complete a roundabout feasibility study to evaluate the overall benefit of upgrading the intersection to a roundabout versus traffic signalization.
Constructability: Due to the close proximity of the Blindman River and associated bridge crossings on Highway 20 and Highway 12, the proposed roundabout will be constructed at the existing intersection location. Constructing the roundabout in this location will also minimize impacts to the surrounding land. To accommodate traffic during construction, a larger temporary roundabout detour is planned. Compared to a typical intersection-type detour, the temporary roundabout detour will reduce overall project costs and environmental impacts.
Environmental Impacts: An Environmental Evaluation was completed in 2019 to identify potential environmental impacts, mitigation measures and residual effects. The proposed roundabout location will minimize permanent environmental impacts. Some temporary impacts to surrounding environmental sensitive areas such as wetlands may be required to construct the temporary detour roundabout. Further environmental screening will be completed during the detailed design phase to confirm impacts. Any required environmental permitting will be obtained prior to construction.
Future Requirements: Existing and future traffic volumes will be taken into consideration for the roundabout design. A detailed traffic analysis was completed and found that the proposed roundabout provides ample capacity for the existing and future 20-year traffic projections. This section of Highway 12 and the north leg of Highway 20 have been identified as a potential future high-load corridor. The proposed roundabout will be designed to accommodate oversized loads.
Key Features
- Simple, single lane roundabout design.
- Fewer potential conflict points versus a signalized intersection.
- Constructed at the existing intersection location to minimize overall project footprint and environmental impacts.
- Speed controlled through geometric features that allow for safe and continuous traffic flow at all times of day.
- Includes a traversable central island apron and outer truck over-run area, which will accommodate heavy truck traffic, farm equipment and tractor-trailer combination vehicles.
- On-site detour planned during construction to reduce costs and minimize delays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, roundabouts provide additional safety features versus signalized intersections. A study completed by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program indicated an average reduction of 35% in total collisions and 76% fewer severe injuries after 55 intersections were converted to roundabouts.
No, there are differences between modern roundabouts and traffic circles. The centre island of a roundabout is smaller than the centre island of a traffic circle. The Roundabout has been designed with a tighter curve around the island to encourage lower speeds and may have a sloped curb to allow more room for larger commercial vehicles.
Yes, this roundabout will be designed to accommodate heavy truck traffic and oversized loads.
Construction is tentatively planned for the spring/summer of 2022.
Construction will take approximately 3-4 months to complete.
A combination of construction staging and an on-site detour will be used to accommodate traffic and reduce potential delays during construction.
Responses to Questions/Comments Received:
Comment: Make sure you make lanes big enough for the biggest trucks and farm equipment!!And speed right lanes. I find like the one at Blackfalds works amazing. It slows traffic is safe and it keeps traffic moving.
Comment: Make it bigger
Response: The roundabout will be designed to accommodate large trucks, farm equipment and oversized loads. For further information please view the flyover and traffic simulation which shows a large oversized load traveling through the roundabout.
Comment: Great plan , this intersection has resulted in many accidents over the years with many injuries and deaths , the only issue I see with the traffic circle would be the ability for large trucks to get around it but I am sure this has been considered ; I’m excited to see this being concerned and hopeful that it moves forward
Response: Thank you for the positive comment in support of constructing a roundabout at this intersection. Yes, the roundabout will be designed to accommodate large trucks.
Comment: BAD IDEA If it is anything like the one in Sylvan Lake it is awkward and small not giving room to properly enter and exit. Take a look at the older ones in Edmonton
Response: The older configurations in Edmonton are actually traffic circles, which are different than a modern roundabout. The centre island of a roundabout is smaller than the centre island of a traffic circle. The roundabout has been designed with a tighter curve around the island to encourage lower speeds and has a sloped curb to allow more room for larger commercial vehicles. For more information on roundabouts and how they are different from traffic circles please visit Roundabouts | Alberta.ca. The roundabout will be designed to provide sufficient room for proper entry and exit maneuvers for both passenger and large commercial vehicles.
Comment: Why is it single lane? It is a big intersection. There is a 2 lane at 597 and Highway 2A intersection. This is bigger intersection than that in the summer. Just curious. Thank you
Comment: This roundabout should be designed like the one at Blackfalds and highway 2a. With TWO lanes leading up to the roundabout and the roundabout its self being Two lanes. I have been trucking for more than 45 years and I know cars always (NEED) to get passed a big truck. So with 2 lanes leading up to, and 2 lanes within the roundabout, and 2 lanes going out of the roundabout will be MUCH SAFER, and more efficient. PLUS the big trucks will not be scrubbing their tires around the circle as much, as there will be a larger circle to work with. This will give you less road surface maintenance, as the pavement will not get chewed out as much. So I would use part of the phase 2 detour roundabout to make the TWO lanes in and out of the roundabout. PS. I now hundreds of fellow truckers, and EVERYONE of them CURSE the roundabout at Sylvan Lake, (highway 20 & 11a).
Response: A single lane roundabout was determined based on traffic volumes as well as the configuration of the existing highways. Both Highway 20 and Highway 12 are 2-lane undivided highways with a single lane for each direction of travel and are well below the traffic volumes required for a 2-lane roundabout. 2-lane roundabouts are warranted at high traffic locations and where the existing highway configuration is a 4-lane highway. The roundabout will be designed to accommodate heavy trucks and tractor trailers, farm equipment and oversized loads. For further information please view the flyover and traffic simulation which shows a large oversized load traveling through the roundabout.
Comment: Since when is a roundabout installed in a 100km/hr zone?!? They are installed within cities and towns. Why don’t you find another way to deal with traffic, like an overpass. Maybe twin highway 20. I drive it every day for work. It is impossible to pass between sylvan and Bentley because there is too much traffic....This will contest things more and is a bandaid.
Comment: Why a roundabout? I have witnessed the roundabout in /Sylvan Lake, traffic becomes aggressive i n some situations. I realize an overpass would be more expensive, however an overpass over HWY #20 would reduce traffic problems at this intersection.
Comment: I think an overpass would be a better choice
Response: Similar roundabouts have been constructed at several other rural intersection locations throughout the Province and have been effective at reducing injury related and fatal collisions. The speed limits approaching, within and exiting the roundabout will be reduced to provide safe vehicle operating conditions. Overpasses are significantly more costly to construct and are typically only constructed over or under a Class 1 divided (twinned) freeway or expressway such as Highways: 1, 2, 3 & 16. Currently Highway 20 has not been identified for twinning as the traffic volumes do not warrant a 4-lane divided (twinned) configuration at this time.
Comment: We don’t need a roundabout at that intersection. Put lights in instead. A roundabout will only make things worse at that intersection
Response: Traffic signals were evaluated as part of the Intersection Analysis Study that was completed for this intersection. Alberta Transportation's current policy is to complete a roundabout feasibility study to evaluate the overall benefit of upgrading the intersection to a roundabout versus traffic signalization. A Roundabout was determined to be the most appropriate intersection type due to improved safety and traffic capacity versus a signalized intersection. A study completed by the National Highway Research Program indicated an average reduction of 35% in total collisions and 76% fewer severe injuries after 55 intersections were converted to roundabouts.
Comment: Only wish the project would go a little quicker!!
Comment: Long LONG overdue for this intersection!!
Comment: As a driver who uses this intersection at least twice a day, every day, I could not be happier that a roundabout is planned. I have personally know people killed at this location, I know the volunteer firemen who are frequently called to collisions at this corner and I worry about the many people I care about who also navigate it daily. It is unfortunate that it has literally taken decades to address the issue. In my opinion the attempt to help by putting in a turning yield lane to the north just added to the problem. Sightlines and speed have always been a problem as well, of course, as have driver error.The sooner this construction is complete, the better for all drivers accessing the 12/20 intersection!
Response: Construction is tentatively planned for the spring/summer of 2022. The proposed construction schedule was established to allow for adequate time for the roundabout design to be completed in 2021. Previous improvements to the intersection were carried out and monitored to determine their effectiveness. Based on the most recent study, upgrading the intersection to a roundabout was determined to be the most appropriate improvement for this location.
Comment: Will the round about be asphalt or cement? I see the asphalt roundabouts get bad potholes relatively fast. Is cement a better option? I see the ones in red deer are holding up better.
Response: The roundabout surface will consist of asphalt driving lanes. Asphalt was determined to be the most applicable surfacing material based on a detailed life cycle cost analysis that was completed to evaluate the cost-benefit of asphalt versus cement. The total estimated life-cycle cost to construct the roundabout driving lanes using cement was significantly higher than asphalt even though cement requires less frequent maintenance. The use of high-performance modified asphalts will be incorporated into the design to improve the longevity and reduce deterioration of the asphalt driving surface.
Comment: I live where the new roundabout is going in by Bentley/ This intersection is WIDE open and accidents should never happen. Its the lack of STOPPING looking and impatience on peoples part. I've never seen more than a small few vechiles lined up to get onto hiway 12. Your going to get more conjestion from trucks having to speed up and cars behind them to carry on down 12. Sorry but what a waste of tax payers money.
Response: An In-Service Road Safety Review was undertaken as part of the Intersection Analysis and Roundabout Study to assess existing safety conditions and identify opportunities for improvements in traffic operations and safety. Based on the findings of the study, upgrades to the existing intersection were warranted and a roundabout was determined to be the most appropriate intersection improvement based on a cost-benefit and life-cycle cost analysis. A detailed traffic analysis has been completed for the proposed roundabout and determined that there will be minimal traffic congestion based on existing and future projected traffic volumes.
Comment: Don’t do it
Response: A roundabout is being planned for this intersection to improve traffic safety and traffic capacity. The intersection has an above average collision rate consisting of primarily angle/turning movement collisions. Roundabouts have been proven to reduce overall collisions and collision severity. A study completed by the National Highway Research Program indicated an average reduction of 35% in total collisions and 76% fewer severe injuries after 55 intersections were converted to roundabouts.
Comment: I live in the surrounding area and the current intersection is VERY dangerous so I’m glad that the roundabout is going in. It will slow everyone down and make it safer. Thanks!,
Comment: awesome!!! finally!!! we live just outside of bentley and that is such a busy and dangerous intersection. roundabouts are the answer. the improvement of traffic flow and safety at the sylvan lake and blackfalds roundabouts are outstanding
Comment: Great idea!! I love roundabouts!
Comment: Fantastic. After witnessing a life changing, multiple fatality collision at this intersection, a speed reduction and roundabout would be great.
Comment: This is great news! That intersection is horrible.
Comment: A good idea I’ve lived here for over 30 years and seen a lot of bad smashes good call
Comment: i think the roundabout is a genious idea! too many accidents happen there because of wait times and being impatient right now!
Comment: Thank you for building this road safety feature. Much needed.
Comment: I think it is a Very Good idea. Lots of accidents at that corner over the yeas. The soon it's done the better.. Well Done
Comment: Long overdue I go through here daily very dangerous intersection and it looks like large equipment can get through so well planned
Response: Thank you for the positive comments in support of constructing a roundabout at this intersection.
