Residents frustrated by traffic congestion in Edmonton’s Belgravia neighbourhood amid rezoning proposal

More apartments could pop up in Edmonton’s Belgravia neighbourhood now that applications for rezoning are in the queue for discussion at City Hall.

But the news comes with mixed emotions from nearby residents and businesses.

“The construction is a must, but they should do it properly. They should plan properly,” said Vijay Kumar, the Owner of Belgravia Hub on the corner of 115 Street and 76 Avenue.

Kumar supports infill if there is a plan for traffic.

One under-construction building is already stalling traffic. Kumar says the afternoon rush hour is bumper-to-bumper, which is driving away potential customers by as much as half his business.

“It takes like half an hour for us to come here, so do the people who want to make a reservation and come in at five o’clock. They reach around here at 5:30,” said Kumar.

On the east edge of the Belgravia neighbourhood on 115 Street, construction crews are blocking off all traffic coming into the neighbourhood from 76 Avenue, just a block down.

Residents CityNews spoke to say this disruption, paired with a steady flow of commuters from the U of A and downtown cutting through the neighbourhood, creates a traffic congestion nightmare.

“It’s almost impossible to get out on school days after 3 o’clock,” said Michael Janz, councillor of Ward Papastew.

Janz told CityNews he’s used to seeing standstill traffic in Belgravia’s roads as people along Saskatchewan Drive search for a shorter way home.

He put forward a motion to postpone a public hearing at City Hall that was supposed to happen Monday, so a traffic study can look for ways to ease congestion before rezoning.

“Whether it’s changing some streets to one-ways, whether it’s a way to prioritize neighbourhood traffic, there’s got to be something we can do here because it’s not fair to residents to be stranded in their own neighbourhood,” said Janz.

Kumar is hopeful the city will sort it out, but says since going public with his concerns, the community has rallied with reservations.

“It was so busy, we did not have a single chair left. Which was great from the community, and the community of McKernan/Belgravia is always great, and we are happy to be here,” Kumar explained.

Just like the long wait in traffic, plans by those in Belgravia to talk with the city have been delayed. They will now have to wait until at least August 18.