Transportation committee wants to hear from businesses before deciding to overhaul Millar Avenue

Plans to redesign Saskatoon’s Millar Avenue at 51st Street, and along 43rd Street to make it safer for vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists have been temporarily put on hold.

During Tuesday’s Transportation Committee meeting, Jay Magus, transportation director, first discussed plans for extensive changes to the intersection of Millar Avenue and 51st Street. Later, he also outlined plans to connect the same road at 43rd Street, to Marquis Drive.

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According to an administration report, SGI’s latest five-year data, show there have been 161 collisions at the 51st Street intersection, including one death in 2021, 11 “moderate” injuries, 15 “minor” injuries, and 134 property damage-only collisions.

Two pedestrians have also been injured at the intersection between 2022 and 2023.

“There’s also records of 153 collisions that occurred in the vicinity of the intersection,” said Magus.

Several businesses are located near each corner of the intersection, including a Tim Hortons/Wendy’s, McDonald’s, Co-Op, and Original Joe’s – all with driveways located just metres away.

Magus said vehicles going in or trying to get out of the businesses can have sight line, and other issues.

“Accesses to the fast food franchises … appear to have a significant collision history (and) are increasing over time, and have resulted in complaints from the users of the intersection,” he added.

An artist rendering of some of the proposed intersection changes at Millar Avenue and 51st street, including a centre median to prevent left turn lanes into businesses, and expanded corner islands. (City of Saskatoon/Submitted)

Administration’s recommendation was for a full reconstruction of the intersection at a cost of $6.24 million.

“This option improves the level of service and operations by changing lane configuration of the northbound and southbound lanes to include a left turn bay, a through lane, and a shared through/right turn lane bay,” Magus said.

In addition, there would be a median in the middle of Millar Avenue to prevent left turns from driveways onto the road, or from the roadway into the driveways, and channelized islands with pedestrian/accessibility ramps in each intersection corner, along with a shared use pathway on both sides of Millar Avenue.

According to Magus, two rounds of engagement were held for the project. One occurred in July, 2024, while the other was held in February of 2025. Online surveys were also part of the process.

Issues raised at the open houses included addressing cyclist and pedestrian safety and maintaining business access during construction.

Ward 5 Coun. Randy Donauer, who represents the area, and Ward 3 Coun. Robert Pearce had concerns about the design, and whether businesses had been adequately consulted about potential financial impacts.

“I know if I can’t make a left hand turn into a business, I just decide not to got to that business and go elsewhere … I’m really hesitant to vote in favour of this. I don’t think there’s been enough consideration for businesses that have been built there and established there.

“And now we’re kind of changing the rules on them as to how people can access their businesses, so I’m definitely very concerned for the businesses in this area, and I think there needs to be more impact study on this,” said Pearce.

While Donauer said he understands the safety impacts of the intersection re-design, he said the impacted businesses “don’t feel heard.”

He put forward a motion that the affected business owners are engaged by city administration to address their concerns about future intersection changes, and to bring a summary back to council with proposed solutions.

“Who knows? Maybe there’s a solution to be found, and accommodation to take place. I just know they’re not feeling that right now.

“Us waiting a couple more months to go have a chat with some of these folks – if it works, great – it’s a win, win, win. If it doesn’t work, at least we tried one more time,” he said.

Coun. Donauer’s deferral motion passed unanimously, and at this point, there’s no city funding for the proposed intersection changes. The matter will come back to the Transportation Committee after the administration summary has been completed.

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to correct an error. A previous version referred to “Millar Road” rather than Millar Avenue.