An intersection in the community of Cimarron will soon have new signal equipment installed.

After a traffic calming study last year, recommendations came forward for the possibility of traffic signals at the intersection of Cimarron Boulevard and Cimarron Drive.

Marley Oness, Engineering Manager for the town of Okotoks says the town has decided to go ahead with signals, but in the form of rapid flash beacons instead of traffic lights.

"We got a budget approved for the signals, but always with the option that we could go to rapid flashing beacons as an alternative," he says. "So this year we re-engaged the Traffic Calming Committee, and found that there wasn't a great deal of support for traffic signals, so we went to plan B, and we are going ahead with the rapid flashing beacons."

Administration gathered feedback from participating members of the Cimarron Advisory Group Committee to determine if they supported installation of traffic signals. Eight of the twelve respondents did not support installing traffic signals, however seven of these eight supported installation of rapid flashing beacons.

Rapid flashing beacons are a pedestrian activated signal located on the sides of the roads which draws attention to pedestrians when they're trying to use a crosswalk.

Oness says the installation of the beacons will provide breaks in the flow of traffic in the area.

"It wasn't warranted from a traffic volume perspective, but from the ability to create gaps in the traffic to allow people to get in and out of their driveways a little bit easier."

The new beacons are expected to increase opportunity for access along the corridor, and increase accessibility to Cimarron Boulevard at Cimarron Drive as well.

The new equipment is anticipated to be installed before the end of the year.

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