Why is the River Valley seeing so much wrong-way driving?

CTV News Edmonton's Amanda Anderson has more on a particular road in the river valley causing problems for drivers, with some ending up driving into oncoming traffic.

Driving through Edmonton’s River Valley can be confusing, and a problem spot on McDougall Hill is increasingly becoming a dangerous wrong-way situation for drivers.

The road at the bottom of the hill, which uses lane control, separates for traffic heading to and from the Low Level Bridge.

The bridge is currently under construction but it doesn’t appear to be construction that’s confusing drivers.

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In less than an hour on Thursday morning, CTV News Edmonton cameras captured nine drivers who realized, too late, that they were driving the wrong way into oncoming traffic.

Nearby resident Amanda Grift said it’s such a recurring problem, the city should consider doing more to warn drivers.

“I guess the red X’s would be a clear sign, but to some I guess, they just don’t see that,” she said on Thursday.

Currently, the reversible lane control mechanisms indicate one-way uphill and downhill lanes using signs, flashing lights and a traffic arm with large red X’s and check marks to indicate where to drive.

In an emailed statement to CTV News Edmonton, the City of Edmonton said it had not received any complaints about the traffic arm in question but is notified when it needs to be repaired.

It was recently repaired, the city said, and the gate attached to the arm is made from flexible material meant to detach with minimal damage to the lane control system or the vehicle that may hit it.

Current Ward O-day’min councillor Anne Stevenson said it may be difficult for city staff to be aware of what’s going on at every intersection.

“I hope that they’re able to send out a team and check that out and make any changes needed,” she said in an interview Thursday.

The city said a 2023 study on McDougall Hill considered closing a traffic lane, but decided the extra lane is beneficial during construction closures, emergencies or handling extra traffic during maintenance.

Their statement said they would continue to monitor and assess traffic control in the area.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Brandon Lynch