EDMONTON- City Council has decided to keep 112th Avenue, between 50th Street and 68th Street, as a four lane roadway when it reconstructs the road next year.
The issue was brought up at a council meeting Wednesday, and the issue was faced with some opposition.
Some residents in the area had hoped the 18 block stretch would be reduced to three lanes. Residents voiced their concerns, saying three lanes would better connect the community and also reduce the amount of traffic, particularly in the Highlands neighbourhood.
"I think a creative approach and some innovation could have made this work. I think there was a real opportunity that appears to be lost," said Greg Mackenzie, who represents a group of about 500 people who supported the three lane option. "(I'm) very disappointed."
Mackenzie believes sticking to the four lane approach goes against the city's push to become a more walkable, sustainable city.
"Promoting the vibrancy of our mature neighbourhoods and promoting the creation of communities.. the three lane option really fits the bill on all of those accounts."
However, others in the area say they had their concerns as well, with the three lane approach.
"It was visibility and accessibility," said Gord Enders who works at Direct-Line Insurance on 112th Ave and 64th Street. "As a business, you have to be visible and you've got to have traffic in order to attract news customers and clients."
He says cutting the section of roadway down to three lanes would have made it virtually impossible to navigate during peak hours.
"I think the community has really been good in having some good, open discussion. I think the city did a great job with their planning and their consultation process."
Mayor Stephen Mandel says it was a really difficult topic, but believes council did a good job of trying to find a balance.
"The people in the Highlands would like to see the three lanes, and I understand that, but there's movement through that community which is a bit unfair, but they're placed in that position."
More than 12,000 vehicles use that section of 112th Avenue on a daily basis. Reconstruction is planned for 2014.
With files from Vinesh Pratap.
© Global News. A division of Shaw Media Inc., 2013.