The Bracebridge roundabout is set for a redesign this fall, following a decision made at Bracebridge’s general committee meeting earlier today.
The committee unanimously approved the final design for a revamped version of the Taylor Road roundabout.
Scott Clayton, the Town’s manager of operations, said the roundabout is overgrown and the new layout will allow for better sightlines.
“It’s time for a re-jig,” Clayton told the committee.
The new plans will include the installation of an asphalt apron inside the existing curbed diameter. Clayton said the asphalt apron could incorporate logos, symbols or other marking designs.
The new design will incorporate the existing flagpole, large “Bracebridge Muskoka” granite stone, irrigation water service, lighting system and existing trees. New perennial plantings will be low maintenance, salt and drought-resistant, and provide continuous colour between spring and fall seasons.
The Contract for the Taylor Road roundabout redesign and build was awarded to Absolute Landscape and Design Ltd. at $56,275.
Work is expected to begin in the fall of this year.
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Dana Viking says
Another complete waste of taxpayer money. $56,000 for something that is not broken!
Who wants more ‘logos’ , ‘markings’ and ‘symbols.’ Along with more asphalt. Don’t drivers need to concentrate while they are in this sphagetti maze? Will more asphalt lead to attempts to pass vehicles or get around them?
Public Works in out town loves to find endless ways to spend OUR money in overdoing things. Perhaps we need a ‘re-jig’ in town leadership.
Frank Mckenize says
Why add asphalt?? More green space lost and the use of a material that is detrimental for the environment. Hasn’t the Town read the sustainability manual? When will we have staff who understand that these old ideas don’t pass muster in 2024.
Wendy Hosick says
I absolutely AGREE that this is a colossal waste of taxpayers money. I landscaped for years, and this is a ridiculous amount of money for a revamp. I live at McVittie Place, very close to the circle, down the hill. Last summer grating was done for the 40 new apartments as well as the new Hotel. Very noisy for two years and especially with the people who have noisy or no mufflers or exhaust. PLEASE put in by-law signs saying QUIET – Seniors area! No racing or air breaks! As well a monitor showing speeds so people will slow down rather than race to get through the lights or even a couple of speed bumps going down the hill. The Rotary Gardens are on your right going down Taylor. It used to be enjoyable walking thru, now it is noisy and traffic will be awful when they open the high rise Hotel. Please keep us seniors in mind, especially here. Racing car sounds disturbs seniors as its trapped by the McVittie apartments. The mistake in that garden was putting in river stones. Grass seeds land and up comes the grass and weeds. Just soil is better to weed.
Maureen Nevins says
I agree with other respondents comments. I think this is a very expensive solution to a very small problem. Why not just fix the sight lines by cutting back any vegetation that’s impedes the view? Signage and paving don’t make sense as expenditures. Instead the district should focus on fixing other, more serious, infrastructure problems that have been ignored for far too long. For example, stop patching Fraserburg Road and repatching the same area over and over again to no avail, wasting taxpayers money. Funding a real solution for Fraserburg Road (and other roads) would seem to be better way to approach district improvements.
Judith Colwell says
I use this roundabout almost daily. It is perfect the way it it. Its clean, functional and beautiful. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it as it is currently. Nothing about this space needs to be changed for fixed.
Adding more items is a distraction and a safety hazard. Personally, I really appreciate the current flowers but admittedly at their full bloom I have caught myself looking at them as I proceed instead of having my eyes on the road. To add things like “logos” and “symbols” would also be distracting. I’m also wondering if “logos” and “symbols” are euphemisms for paid advertisements? We don’t need billboards in our faces as we navigate around this roundabout. I would also think that adding things like this would encourage defacement such as graffiti.
As others have said, there is no need to be spending this money on this. I agree that this is a complete waste of our money.