Frustrated drivers who try to shave minutes off their daily commute by cutting through residential neighbourhoods may face even more frustration.

The city is starting a pilot project this week in four neighbourhoods to prevent shortcutting by drivers trying to avoid heavy traffic on major roadways.

People are speeding through neighbourhoods trying to avoid traffic because the city is growing and getting busier, said Coun. Michael Oshry.

"People are not used to it taking longer to get anywhere," Oshry said. "This creates a safety hazard because these streets were not designed for that kind of traffic flow and that volume and that speed."

The city examined four communities where residents say the problem is chronic.

Traffic calming measures — road blocks, speed bumps and speed display signs — will be installed in these neighbourhoods.

Ormsby Place — Through traffic will be banned on Ormsby Road East between 69th Avenue and Callingwood Road at 188th Street, except for buses and bicycles. Speed display signs will be installed.

Crestwood — Speed bumps will be installed on 95th Avenue between 142nd Street and 149th Street and along 96th Avenue between 142nd Street and 146th Street.

Ottewell — Speed bumps will be installed along 94B Avenue between 50th Street and 75th Street. Speed display signs on 94B Avenue are already in place. The city will also review signal timings to improve traffic flow on 50th Street and 75th Street.​

​Newton — Speed bumps will be installed along 121st Avenue between 50th Street and 58th Street. Signal timings at the intersection of 121st Avenue and 50th Street will also be reviewed to discourage shortcutting.

The changes should all be completed by the end of the week.

The city said before and after surveys will be completed to see if the measures are working. City officials will also speak with community leagues, ETS riders, firefighters and snow clearing operators to see how the measures affect them.

Next spring other neighbourhoods will join the program.

Oshry warns motorists to get used to longer commute times as city growth continues.

"It's going to take longer to get anywhere in the city. It's a fact. There's not much we can do about that."

Traffic-calming measures have proven to be contentious in some neighbourhoods where roadblocks intended to ease traffic on one street ended up funnelling traffic onto another.

This month the city removed road blocks in Pleasantview after many residents complained.