The intersection of Highway #12 and Main Street in Steinbach handles an average of 29,200 vehicles per day. That is one of the findings in the annual Traffic Count Study that is commissioned by the city. The study shows the busiest intersection in Steinbach is Highway #12 at Park Road with 2,820 vehicles per hour during peak periods. It is followed closely by Highway #12 at Main Street with 2,610 vehicles per hour during peak periods.

Troy Warkentin, the city's Chief Administrative Officer, says the study also found the intersection at Loewen Boulevard is the location on Highway #12 that is now in greatest need of an upgrade.

"Even though it's signalized, the configuration of it and the fact that there are no dedicated left-hand turning lanes, either eastbound or westbound, does contribute to some significant factors and challenges and delays for traffic trying to use that intersection. That would be highlighted as, probably, the most challenging intersection that now remains (on Highway #12)."

Meanwhile, Warkentin says the traffic count study also showed that construction last summer at the Penfeld/Acres intersection had a huge impact on traffic there.

"The actual count results are quite telling and quite dramatic. It does show the impact of construction. The intersections of Millwork Drive and also at Elmdale Street, the overall traffic counts were down 28% and 23% respectively. The intersections along PTH 12 at Superstore and at Loewen Boulevard experienced even higher rates of decrease. The Superstore intersection was actually down by about 30% from the previous year. That's about 1,000 cars per hour, which is dramatic. Certainly, we want to recognize the challenges faced by the businesses during that time. They were being extremely patient during the year."

The study shows that, over the last ten years, traffic growth in Steinbach is in the range of one to three percent per year.