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They said it was not shared earlier because it was confidential during contract negotiations, but it is now too late to make any major changes to the route and intersection designs.

Photo by Greg Southam / Postmedia

The data released Thursday includes average wait times and queue lengths for 45 intersections, both for the morning and afternoon rush. It’s from a model that predicts how long drivers will wait on opening day based on where they are driving now.

But the numbers are expected to shift as people choose other routes, said Guy Boston, head of LRT delivery. “We are so fortunate in Edmonton to have a grid system,” he said, predicting some traffic will spill over onto 50 Street, or 75 Street further up the line.

“On opening day, sometimes there’s a traffic nightmare but people start making decisions about where they want to go.”

Adam Laughlin, the city’s head of infrastructure, said his team will be ready to respond if residential short-cutting becomes an issue. Signal timing can also be adjusted, he said.

The line between downtown and Mill Woods is scheduled to open on Dec. 15, 2020. Construction got underway in earnest this summer and is now evident up and down the 13-kilometre line.

Ward 11 Coun. Mike Nickel said he’s not surprised but is frustrated by the data. He’s been trying to get the data for more than a year and is frustrated by the response he’s getting from city officials.

“This has just turned into a ‘Suck it up, buttercup’ kind of moment,” he said, after a private administrative briefing for council.

City officials are already talking about some traffic mitigation measures, including a possible widening of 75 Street north of Wagner Road. As part of LRT construction, 75 Street south of Wagner Road to Whitemud Drive is already being widened to six lanes.

“That can’t be the end of it,” said Nickel, hoping for that and more in the next capital budget cycle.

The issue is also heading to council’s executive committee for discussion next Tuesday.

Laughlin said his staff are currently working with a regional traffic model, which will take a more high-level look at how a change in one corridor will spill over into others. They’ll use that to prioritize the 75 Street widening against other infrastructure projects in the city.

estolte@postmedia.com

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