A city report to go before council next week recommends the Yellowhead, which is the most highly-used goods movement corridor in Edmonton, become more free-flow by removing some traffic lights in order to ease traffic congestion.
The report looks at both building interchanges and closing down other intersections in an effort to keep traffic flowing freely.
"Why didn't they do something 30 years ago? They didn't think that we'd be a growing a city when they built this initially?" said Crystal Savard, who works at a shop that runs along Yellowhead Trail near 89 St.
City Coun Kim Krushell is asking the same question.
"I don't understand why when we started the process of the Yellowhead they didn't build it with the interchanges in the first place. That's a long time ago and that's history, but I think we're eventually going to have to start getting to," she said.
The report suggests creating three new overpasses at 149 St. 127 St. and one somewhere between 127 St. and 97 St. And that would result in eliminating intersections or service roads at 142 St., 89 St. and 64 St.
Savard worries the proposed plan would see her work getting shutting down.
"People are here because they want the high-traffic and the high visibility, but high visibility is not going to help them if nobody can access them," she said.
One city councillor says the need to improve the Yellowhead and the desire to keep businesses thriving must be taken into account, but he thinks the focus needs to be shifted on public transit.
"Public transit has to be the priority. I think in terms of dealing with traffic problems in this city, public transit is our only real solution," said Coun. Ben Henderson.
The proposed plan would cost an estimated $1.35 million. City administration says it would look to other levels of government for financial support.
The report will be presented at next Tuesday's Transportation and Public Works Committee meeting.
With files from Dez Melenka
