Westbound Left Turn Prohibition and Northbound U-turn
Prohibition - Intersection of Avenue Road and Oxton Avenue
and Avenue Road, north of Oxton Avenue
(Midtown)
The Toronto Community Council recommends the adoption of the following
report (December 23, 1999) from the Director, Transportation Services, District
1:
The Toronto Community Council reports, for the information of Council, having
thanked Works and Emergency Services staff and the contractors, for their
efforts during construction of the alteration to the road.
_________
Purpose:
To improve the operational safety of the intersection of Avenue Road
and Oxton Avenue by introducing a westbound left turn prohibition and
to improve safety for traffic on Avenue Road, north of the intersection,
by prohibiting northbound U-turns.
Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
Funds to cover the cost of the installation of the necessary signage, in the
estimated amount of $500.00, will have to be provided in the Transportation
Services Division 2000 Budget request.
Recommendations:
1. That westbound left turns on Oxton Avenue at Avenue Road be
prohibited at anytime;
2. That U-turns be prohibited at anytime for northbound traffic on
Avenue Road, between Oxton Avenue and Chaplin Crescent; and
3. That the appropriate City Officials be requested to take whatever
action is necessary to give effect thereto including the introduction
in Council of any Bills that are required.
Comments:
Transportation Services' staff have received concerns from area residents in the
vicinity of the intersection of Avenue Road and Oxton Avenue with respect to
operational safety as some motorists are making the hazardous movements of
either a westbound left turn or a northbound U-turn to get onto Avenue Road
southbound from westbound Oxton Avenue.
The installation of a new configuration for the intersection of Avenue
Road and Oxton Avenue, as approved by City Council at its meeting of
December 14 and 15, 1999 (Clause No. 50 in Report No. 15 of the Toronto
Community Council), was completed on December 17, 1999. The design
was intended, amongst other things, to discourage westbound left
turns. Notwithstanding, some motorists are making left turns.
Observations conducted by Transportation Services' staff, as well as
area residents have confirmed that this movement is hazardous and
from an operational safety point of view, should not be allowed due in
part to the high volume of traffic using this intersection. Therefore,
west-left turns from Oxton Avenue onto Avenue Road should be
prohibited at all times and in conjunction with this, northbound U-turns
on Avenue Road, between Oxton Avenue and Chaplin Crescent, should
also be prohibited at all times to prevent motorists from circumventing
the proposed left-turn prohibition.
Contact:
Mike Harris, Supervisor of Traffic Engineering, District 1 (Central)
Telephone: (416) 392-7711
Fax: (416) 392-0816
E-mail: mharris@toronto.ca