Implementation of the Staged Corridor Improvement Concepts
Implementation of the staged corridor improvement concepts for CSAH 34 (Birch Street) will include some public / private access modifications along the corridor during the intermediate, long range, and ultimate improvement phases. These access modifications will occur as future safety and traffic operation needs arise or as improvements are constructed. For consistency, the following guidelines developed by the Technical Advisory Committee are proposed to determine when access modifications should be undertaken:
- When a new traffic signal is installed at an intersection (based on warrants), raised medians will be constructed on the CSAH 34 approaches to the intersection as a customary safety and design feature. It should be noted that the raised medians in taper areas may be shortened slightly and painted medians used in these areas (e.g., where the raised median is shortened) to better facilitate access in locations that don’t have adequate local street alternatives.
- In the future, as traffic and/or safety needs require, painted medians and turn lanes will be utilized until volumes reach a point where sound engineering practices, or county or state aid standards require the conversion to raised medians.
- It is understood that new local road connections and/or backage roads will need to be constructed in many areas near the CSAH 34 corridor before more extensive use of raised medians are implemented along the corridor.
- Segments of the CSAH 34 corridor, between intersections using raised medians, will utilize painted medians until such time that future traffic volumes, safety, or roadway capacity issues require the extension of the raised medians.