Infrastructure Improvements on Municipal Road 55 (MR55) from Elm Street, Sudbury to Power Street, Copper Cliff
The Municipal Road 55 (MR55) / Lorne Street Infrastructure Renewal project will consist of the renewal and rehabilitation of the corridor from Elm Street to Power Street with the exception of the recently improved section between Logan and Martindale. MR 55 / Lorne is an arterial road that connects the communities of Whitefish, Naughton, Lively and Copper Cliff to the downtown and has an average daily traffic volume of approximately 20,000 vehicles. It is also a key route of personnel, materials and services to Vale's smelter and refinery located in Copper Cliff. Lorne is also one of the five main connections to the Provincial Highway system and represents a gateway to the community. The MR 55 / Lorne Street corridor is a key commercial and industrial transportation route. The underground infrastructure (watermain, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer) are beyond their useful life and require rehabilitation and/or renewal. The watermain infrastructure will be upsized as recommended by the Water/Wastewater Master Plan to provide hydraulics in the area.
Project Background
Currently, the Municipal infrastructure assets within the corridor of MR55 and Lorne Street are in need of renewal and/or rehabilitation. The assets are approaching the end of their service life and components are becoming deficient. Maintenance costs exceed acceptable standards, the assets are performing lower than expected, and are exhibiting signs of deterioration. The City has an opportunity to enhance and improve other aspects such as pedestrian safety and transit improvements. The Project is being designed based upon the recommendations of the Transportation Master Plan and considering Complete Street principles. The storm sewer and sanitary sewer infrastructure is functioning, however, the age and material increases the risk of failure and / or infiltration. Likewise, the existing watermain, services and appurtenances are functioning in accordance with design standards from when they were constructed. The reliability of the water and sanitary sewer systems are currently adequate, however, this will diminish over time.
Construction
Construction timelines are subject to availability of funds and City Council’s approval. These dates are subject to change.
Infrastructure Improvements on Municipal Road 55 (MR55) from Elm Street, Sudbury to Power Street, Copper Cliff
The Municipal Road 55 (MR55) / Lorne Street Infrastructure Renewal project will consist of the renewal and rehabilitation of the corridor from Elm Street to Power Street with the exception of the recently improved section between Logan and Martindale. MR 55 / Lorne is an arterial road that connects the communities of Whitefish, Naughton, Lively and Copper Cliff to the downtown and has an average daily traffic volume of approximately 20,000 vehicles. It is also a key route of personnel, materials and services to Vale's smelter and refinery located in Copper Cliff. Lorne is also one of the five main connections to the Provincial Highway system and represents a gateway to the community. The MR 55 / Lorne Street corridor is a key commercial and industrial transportation route. The underground infrastructure (watermain, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer) are beyond their useful life and require rehabilitation and/or renewal. The watermain infrastructure will be upsized as recommended by the Water/Wastewater Master Plan to provide hydraulics in the area.
Project Background
Currently, the Municipal infrastructure assets within the corridor of MR55 and Lorne Street are in need of renewal and/or rehabilitation. The assets are approaching the end of their service life and components are becoming deficient. Maintenance costs exceed acceptable standards, the assets are performing lower than expected, and are exhibiting signs of deterioration. The City has an opportunity to enhance and improve other aspects such as pedestrian safety and transit improvements. The Project is being designed based upon the recommendations of the Transportation Master Plan and considering Complete Street principles. The storm sewer and sanitary sewer infrastructure is functioning, however, the age and material increases the risk of failure and / or infiltration. Likewise, the existing watermain, services and appurtenances are functioning in accordance with design standards from when they were constructed. The reliability of the water and sanitary sewer systems are currently adequate, however, this will diminish over time.
Construction
Construction timelines are subject to availability of funds and City Council’s approval. These dates are subject to change.
Thank you for your interest in the MR 55 project. Please leave your questions below and we will provide a response as soon as possible. We look forward to hearing from you.
Hi there. The section completed is wonderful, bike lanes and all!!! What does the city plan for the old 'killer crossing' area? (Where Regent crosses Lorne) It got that name for a reason :) Nasty in many ways, including the horrible abandoned buildings. THANKS
jac
asked
about 2 years ago
Thank you for providing the feedback. The City will be evaluating alternative configuration for the intersection of Lorne Street and Regent Street during the design process
As the city does not have safe roller-blading areas (bad/no asphalt or too narrow or too hilly (ex. Bell Park or Delki Dozzi)) it would great if the path from Copper Cliff to Kelly Lake is covered with asphalt to allow for a safe roller blade path for a few kilometers. Everything is there except the proper surface.
Adding of cameras at the 2 Copper Cliff intersection would also find the high amount of people that burn the red light and create major hazards for residents trying to leave town and have a green light but can't enter the intersection.
Leaving Copper Cliff on Balsam, in the right left turning lane, close to the apex of the turn, the asphalt is always getting destroyed; can this be designed out?
Thanks,
Alain Richard
asked
over 3 years ago
Thank you for your feedback Alain. Paving the
trail from Copper Cliff to Kelly Lake Road would have to be evaluated by the
Rainbow Routes Association. We are open to discuss collaboration opportunities.
We are currently reviewing design options
for upgrades at both the Balsam and Power Street intersections.
the section between power and big nickel mine drive needs to be three lanes on either side. The volume of traffic going through there for most of the business day is dangerously high and merging onto MR55 from big nickel mine dr is very dangerous as the merge lanes are too short (the merge lane should extend into the third lane on the westbound side and the third lane ending at the merge on the eastbound side.
Cal Van Dusen
asked
over 3 years ago
Thank you for your feedback. We will review the merge lanes at Big Nickel and the MR 55 interchange.
Great opportunity to set in place the appropriate infrastructure for a net-zero community, as aimed for by city council.
If your report is correct stating that we have around 20,000 vehicles travel this route per day. We have to address getting those cars off the road, allowing space for public transit and active transport.
Thanks!
M.R.G
asked
over 3 years ago
Active transportation improvements and consideration for upgrading transit stops is part of the detail design. Thank you for your comments.
Power and 55 intersection:
- east-west traffic doesn't always stop, need a design that will still be safe for people trying to enter or leave Copper Cliff
Balsam and 55 intersection:
- heavy (weigth) traffic sitting a the ligth, need pavement to be reinforced.
Alain Richard
asked
over 3 years ago
Thank you for your feedback. We will review signal timing optimization, and other improvements at the intersections. The proposed pavement design will consider heavy truck traffic.
I would like to see bright street lighting all the way into town from Power Street all the way to Kelly Lake Road intersection. When you travel to the Soo or North Bay, both of these city's have beautiful welcoming bright street lighting from the outskirts, all the way into their towns. I feel most of the main entrances into our fair city, with the exception of Highway 69 South, are dark, ugly and unwelcoming.
When I was a kid in the 60's, the west entrance to Sudbury was well lit up from Power St. to Lorne St. Why did this infrastructure get torn down?
It is part of that 'good first impression' of our fair city that travellers should feel, that is lacking, as they drive into town. Currently, it gives me the impression that Sudbury is dark, dreery and unwelcoming, even if the roadway is modern and new.
Jayco
asked
over 3 years ago
As part of the detail design process, a review of the existing street lighting from Power Street to Elm Stwill be completed. The final street light design will comply with current City of Greater Sudbury road lighting standards.
There needs to be sidewalks and a bike route separated from vehicle traffic on both sides of the street. no just a paved shoulder divided by a painted line. There needs to be a some kind of physical barrier between the road and bike sidewalk either elevated, grass, curb etc... Also element for aesthetics, ex- trees for shade, benches etc...
JulienB
asked
over 3 years ago
Thank you for your comments.
Although, the proposed upgrades will include 2.0m paved shoulders on the rural section from Power Street to Kelly Lake Road, it is not proposed to be signed and identified as a bike route. There is an existing trail from Kelly Lake Road to Balsam Street on the south side of MR 55.
A raised asphalt boulevard is proposed for the urban section from Kelly Lake Road to Logan Avenue. The proposed upgrades will include paved boulevard behind the concrete curb and 1.5m concrete sidewalk on both sides.
•From Martindale to Elm Street the current design includes provision for a 1.5m concrete sidewalk and asphalt boulevard on the north/west side.
•Streetscaping design (landscaping, trees, aesthetics) is included as part of the detail design of the project and improvements will be implemented where possible.
I work at 1299 Lorne St. where there is no sidewalk and no bike lanes in the immediate area. In the winter, the only way to walk there from the direction of Sutherland Ave. at Sizzle Restaurant is on Lorne St. because the sidewalk suddenly ends at this location. Additionally, I would have to cross Lorne St. twice just to ensure I face traffic while walking. Furthermore, the bus stop in front of the Deluxe Restaurant is very poorly located and requires passengers to walk along the roadside or use a grassy hillslope to get off the roadway of Lorne St. With drivers often exceeding the speed limit of 60 km/hr, this street is very unsafe for pedestrians. We are all trying to do our part for the environment and our health by walking, cycling, using public transit, yet this street does not help us to use these alternate modes of transportation. I would really like to see a progressive, modern design of Lorne St. so I can feel safe going to and from work and feel proud of my city that allows me and others to do that. Thank you very much for your time and consideration.
M
asked
over 3 years ago
Thank you for your feedback.
The proposed design for Lorne Street from Kelly Lake Road to Logan Avenue includes urbanizing this section of road, which includes concrete curbs, asphalt boulevards and 1.5m concrete sidewalks on both sides.
As part of the detail design process, the City is reviewing opportunities to improve the bus stop locations and incorporate bus shelters where warranted.
Lorne street needs better pedestrian crossings as well as better sidewalks and a bike lane that is separate from vehicle traffic. People need to cross the highway to the grocery store, and it would be nice for the west end neighborhoods to have better access to the Junction Creek trail.
Tslation
asked
over 3 years ago
Thank you for your feedback, Tessa.
A concrete sidewalk is proposed on the north/west side of Lorne Street from Martindale to Elm Street. A signalized pedestrian crossing meeting will be provided at Walnut Street / Grocery Store intersection.
I am particularly concerned about the lack of active transportation infrastructure in the section from Martindale Road to Elm Street. There are several businesses, including the YIG on Lorne, the about-to-open Nickel Refillery on Regent, and many other shops that attract a lot of people. the lack of good sidewalks on the east side of the street (which is where the YIG is) and the complete lack of cycling infrastructure makes this a very uncomfortable and downright dangerous area for people who travel by foot or on bike. I understand the constraints posed by the restricted amount of public property in this area, but traffic levels there do warrant three lanes rather than four, which would be more than adequate to add proper pedestrian and cycling infrastructure on this section. Is this approach currently under consideration, and if not, why not?
Sharon Roy
asked
over 3 years ago
Hi Sharon, thank you for your suggestions.
The City’s Transportation Master Plan identified the cycling route in this area along Edna, Haig, Martindale, Ontario Street and Riverside Drive.
A concrete sidewalk is proposed on the north/west side of Lorne Street from Martindale to Elm Street. Pedestrian Crossing will be provided at Walnut Street / Grocery Store intersection.
There is an existing sidewalk on the east side of Lorne from the Walnut Street intersection to Elm Street. The detail design will include a review to maintain a sidewalk in this location.
