Program Phases
The proposed improvement program for the CSAH 34 corridor will not be completed all at once. Instead, improvements will be staged over the next 20 plus years, based on safety and capacity needs, amount of corridor development, available funding, and benefits from interim improvements. The roadway and trail concept alternatives noted below represent the improvements anticipated to be needed during the “ultimate” project timeframe (year 2030 or later).
Ultimate Roadway Concept Alternatives
Based on stakeholder input and the technical analysis completed, three “ultimate” roadway concept alternatives (two-lane divided, four-lane divided, and two-lane/four-lane divided combination) and a no build alternative were prepared. These alternatives were evaluated based on criteria developed to support the study purpose and need objectives (e.g., improving safety and mobility along the corridor, and coordinating improvements with land use and the environment).
Concept Alternatives
Concept alternatives were evaluated based on their ability to address high crash locations, improve pedestrian crossing and multi-modal trail linkages, provide traffic signals (as warranted), implement county access spacing guidelines, reduce congestion, and minimize impacts to environmentally sensitive areas. Additional factors considered included preliminary construction costs, right-of-way impacts, and consistency with local plans (see alternative evaluation matrix below). Based on this evaluation, the four-lane/two-lane divided roadway concept alternative was carried forward for further analysis. Additionally a future trail system plan was prepared.
Maps
The following map presents the preliminary roadway improvement concept for the ultimate (year 2030 or later) time frame, as well as potential pedestrian crossing locations.