Duckworth-Plymouth Loop

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Consultation has concluded

All 2017 pilot projects have finished. For information about the project, check out the Frequently Asked Questions section.

This location was identified as a candidate for a pilot project because of many concerns that have been raised by the public about the area as a confusing and hazardous location.

During the trial period the City’s Transportation Engineering staff monitored the area. Near the end of the pilot project a survey was circulated to gather direct feedback from the public. The observations and public feedback informed the evaluation to Council.

Council decided to proceed with permanent implementation of the Duckworth Street -Plymouth Road Loop, as soon as funding can be assigned. Information on Council's decision can be found in the link here (minutes of the April 16 regular meeting of Council). Check out the Notice to Residents under Document Library for details on the changes made to each street during the pilot.


All 2017 pilot projects have finished. For information about the project, check out the Frequently Asked Questions section.

This location was identified as a candidate for a pilot project because of many concerns that have been raised by the public about the area as a confusing and hazardous location.

During the trial period the City’s Transportation Engineering staff monitored the area. Near the end of the pilot project a survey was circulated to gather direct feedback from the public. The observations and public feedback informed the evaluation to Council.

Council decided to proceed with permanent implementation of the Duckworth Street -Plymouth Road Loop, as soon as funding can be assigned. Information on Council's decision can be found in the link here (minutes of the April 16 regular meeting of Council). Check out the Notice to Residents under Document Library for details on the changes made to each street during the pilot.


Consultation has concluded

Check out the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on the right or review the questions and answers that have already been posted below. If you can't find the answer you're looking for, post your question here and a staff person will get back to you as soon as possible.

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    Can you please consider the challenges rebar posts caused for motor coach traffic this summer? We like the configurations but cannot leave the Terry Fox Statue (A big favorite with guests) and use Temperance street since we can't navigate a right turn to head up Signal Hill. The configuration works but we would prefer lines on the road instead of physical obstacles. Many Thanks for your efforts.

    Andrew McCarthy asked over 6 years ago

    Thanks for the feedback! The posts used to delineate the area would not be used in any sort of permanent solution.

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    1. With the current pylons in place (simulating an island) at the intersection of Quidi Vidi Rd and Empire Ave, a truck such as an F150 can no longer make a wide turn from Quidi Vidi Rd to Empire Avenue without having to drive into the oncoming lane on Empire Ave. This was not such an issue before the pylons/island was put in place because you could stick to the yellow line and make a wide turn. 2. I have used the intersection at the bottom of Signal Hill on a daily basis for many years and the MAIN problem I see is that drivers are blowing through the stop sign on Duckworth Street at the intersection and also do not give drivers coming up Temperance Street the right of way. It is not because they are confused, it is because they don't want to stop (I saw a cab driver drive right through and didn't even slow down/yield at all when he had a stop sign - cab drivers know this area and know there is a stop sign so it wasn't from confusion of this intersection). This traffic reconfiguration has pushed an increased amount of traffic through that particular stop sign and has increased the problem at that intersection. The only way to stop this, is to have it regularly policed for several weeks until drivers start obeying the traffic signs. 3. The islands proposed, unless they will also be cleared of snow, will pose significant obstruction of views if the snow gets piled on them and will cause an extremely damgerous intersection in the winters. My view is already obstructed in that area with the pylons and extra signage.

    K asked over 6 years ago

    Here are some answers for you:

    1. Thanks for the feedback, we plan to make this movement easier if this becomes a permanent solution. If it is too uncomfortable now you can try using Forest Road to get to your destination.

    2. Yes, we are aware of this long standing issue. We had hoped the changes would improve the compliance with the stop sign but that has not been the case. We will be looking at additional options if this becomes a permanent installation.

    3. The cones etc that are there now will be removed before the winter weather hits.

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    I think it's too complicated. I'd suggest closing Temperance Street to all vehicular traffic. Then move the stop line on Duckworth closer to the bottom of signal hill, creating a simple square. Then install a 4 way stop.

    Krisway asked over 6 years ago

    Thanks for your suggestion. We will look at this option as we move forward. 

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    I prefer the way the traffic flowed previously. I was coming up Temperance (blue line on your vehicle movement diagram) and around the pylon triangle as shown and was almost hit by someone turning left on Duckworth (pink line on your diagram). They had no idea there was a stop sign there. Also, once you turn on Quidi Vidi, there isn't enough road to make a lane change if you realize you are in the wrong lane (for instance, if you realize you don't want to turn on Plymouth, you have to quickly get into the right lane of Quidi Vidi - with very little distance to do this.

    Elizabeth asked over 6 years ago

    Thanks for the feedback. Your concerns are well noted and will be taken into account in the design of a permanent solution if City Council chooses to move forward with it. 

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    Guys .... seriously.... who's children are playing with crayons and google maps at City Hall .... What a colossal waste of money.... all these intersections have existed as is for 50plus years! What ever in the name of the good lord you have done to Queens Rd and up in Kenmount Terrace.... shake your heads and keep your children outta your offices.... or maybe let them in so they can watch YouTube so you can't mess up the rest of the city. Fix the potholes instead ....

    Grant asked over 6 years ago

    Our goal with these pilot projects is to try and identify ways to improve the streets in St. John's. I am sorry that you have not seen a benefit to date. 

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    Duckworth-Plymouth Loop is not friendly for commercial transportation equipment. No 40 foot bus can get around the corner of Duckworth-Plymouth and go back the other way. I have seen it twice this year when a tour bus was stuck and had to back out of the turn and go out of the area and come back into the area a different way to get the signal hill for it passengers to see ST. John's. A Semi came up Tempering street with a 53 foot flat bed and almost bottomed out. The poor driver almost had a heart attack to realized seeing what a big mess he just go him self into. By sure luck nothing was on the flat bed and by some total luck the driver and skill he was able to some how get threw the inter section but had to go down Quidi Vidi Road because of the parked cars and trucks on the side of the road. The whole Duckworth-Plymouth Loop had only reg passenger cars and small trucks in mind, Not Heavy commercial equipment or commercial buses (School and Tour) over 30 feet in length were taken into account at all. Not even a limo with go threw the area and this is not good for tours at all. The the west corner of Duckworth-Plymouth Loop is a complete nightmare for anything over 30 feet in length. Not even MUNs shuttle bus can get round the west corner Duckworth-Plymouth Loop and has to take a longer way to get to the battery for students. It also ruins the look of the whole historical 500 year look of the area. If I have to go down cook's hill my car or a taxi it scraps off the ground and any commercial equipment will bottom out. Also it has added to the traffic congestion in the area, on Friday it took 30 minutes to get past the area because of a backed up traffic jam just trying to get past the area. It is quite clear a transportation expert did not and will not do such a poor job of planning. P/S If the semi was stuck and bottomed out, then police would have to be called to shut down the area until the truck and trailer was moved or may have had a heavy cranes brought in to be lifted it out of the area. Thank You

    Edward Harold Butler asked over 6 years ago

    Thanks for your feedback. Our hope is that commercial drivers will make small changes to their routes to more easily navigate this area. We will continue to keep an eye on how large vehicles use the road over the course of this pilot. 

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    I had proposed this type of change to the former traffic engineer almost 10 years ago. In addition to what is presently being done I proposed additional changes for removing the left turn on to Duckworth off of Plymouth and you would have to proceed up in front of the hotel and then like a round about proceed back down Ordnance Street to turn right on to Duckworth. In addition I suggested eliminating the left turn from Military across traffic to get to Kings Bridge. If you wanted to get to Kings bridge you would go down ordnance street make the loop up in front of the hotel and continue down Kings Bridge. While you could keep the lights in place this would help with traffic flow. I think at some point you can eliminate the lights and just have merge/yield.

    Derek Winsor asked over 6 years ago

    Thank you for the suggestions, we will have a look at these areas for possible future projects.

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    I come this way everyday to travel to Miller Centre and have found the current pilot project was working okay however people still run the stop sign on Duckworth heading toward Signal Hill and now today I noticed more changes when I came up Temperence Street heading to Quidi Vidi Road and had no idea which way to go

    T asked over 6 years ago

    As you come up Temperance onto Quidi Vidi Road you should keep the new traffic island to your right. You can then proceed along Quidi Vidi Road in front of International Flavours and straight up toward Belbin's.

    Hope this helps!

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    Duckworth Steet turning left on to Quidi Vidi Road needs another stop sign on the left! Motorists think they have the right of way coming through there.

    DC asked over 6 years ago

    Thanks for the feedback. We'll take a look at this suggestion and see if we can make it work.

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    Could more adequate signage be placed near, entering and around the project? I had a near miss with a pickup truck as I was navigating the road heading east. The truck in question was navigating via gps and heading in the wrong direction assuming incorrectly the pylons were simple roadworks. This is dangerous as it is. It could be easily fixed with mini-roundabouts (many countries in Europe have used them for decades). This one way system is confusing for people who know the area let alone for tourists or people from out of town. More signage expressly stating WRONG WAY and ONE WAY ONLY in addition to low level directional arrows ( the one on the road are terrible and not very clear). The people who put them on the road might think it is clear but it is a nightmare. My suggestion is to drive through it using the aids given to you alone. I wish you luck not getting into an accident.

    NG asked over 6 years ago

    Thanks for your feedback. We have taken a look at the signage and, for the purposes of this pilot project, we won't be making any changes at his time. If this project does become permanent than the issue of GPS navigation will be corrected and locals will learn the correct route.

    Mini-roundabouts were considered for this location but we felt that the pilot we implemented would be more likely to be successful in the long run than mini-roundabouts.