This busy Kensington corner could get even more crowded

The mayor of Kensington is keenon a new drive-through slated for the town's main intersection.

It's the traffic, he's not so sure about.

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"To us,atraffficjam inKensingtonis you have to wait for two lights. Maybe in Charlottetownyou think nothing ofit but inKensingtonwe like to keep moving a littlefaster," saidmayor RowanCaseley. "Everybody would always be concerned about traffic volume through that intersection."

Councilhas given its blessing to a$450,000 developmentto be built on a vacant lot at the corner of Broadway and VictoriaStreets.

Traffic study may hold answers

The intersection handles thousands of cars dailyand already has two gas stations and one drive-through coffee shop nearby.

The mayor wants to ask the department of transportation to conduct a study of traffic patterns at the busy cross-roads.

"We'llprobablytalk to the minister and see if there's anything they can do to study that intersection. It may be fine and efficient as it can be. If that's it, great," said Caseley. "If there's enhancements that can be made to make the traffic move faster then we're all for it."

The new drive-through will have access from both Victoria and Broadway Streets. The provincial department of transportation has givenapproval to the plans. The development includesparking for 20 vehicles, adining area for 68 people, andthree food-service retail spaces.

One of them is going to be a Subway.One of them is going to be a Robin's- Rowan Caseley, Kensington mayor

The mayor says the development is a sign of economic growth in Kensington, with apopulation of 1,500.

He's also been briefed by the developer on what's going into the three new retail spaces.

"I've finally been given permission that I can disclose that one of them is going to be a Subway.One of them is going to be a Robin's. And the third one we do not know as yet," said Caseley. "To me, I think it's great. It's good to see new businesses coming to town."

Building permits up 50%

The town has issued $2.2 million in new building permits so far this year. That's a 50% increase over all of 2015. Much of the new construction is in the commercial sector.

The mayor says he will ask the province in September about a traffic study. He suggests traffic improvements might include additional turning lanes or motion-activated traffic signals.

It might takecongestion off the one we have ... there might be a certain amount of canibalization- Rowan Caseley, Kensingtonmayor

The mayor says the drive-throughdeveloper has been cooperative. The site plans were altered in response to a requestto move the drive-through window farther from the road. That change will help keep drive-through line-ups from spilling into the streets.

The mayor also speculates a newcoffee shop could actually improve Kensington's busiest intersection by reducing back-ups at the existing drive-through.

"It might takecongestion off the one we have," said Caseley. "There might be a certain amount of cannibalization ... but competition is competition and hopefully they'll both do well."

Construction of the new drive-through is slated to be complete in January.

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