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Niagara Falls
Friday, March 29, 2024
Four-way stop will come with learning curve for residents

The Niagara Region has put up a four-way stop at the intersection of Four Mile Creek and Line 3 roads in May, after what some claimed to have been the 29th collision at the corner in April caused a stir amongst town council.

Coun. Miele went live with a Facebook video in April to show just how bad the accidents can be, and attended regional council with Lord Mayor Pat Darte to demand a solution to try to make sure nobody else gets hurt.

The Region agreed to the four-way stop, saying the intersection, which technically didn’t meet the standards for a four-way, is unique and warranted an immediate solution.

The four-way was officially unveiled a couple of days after being installed.

The signs had been bagged before that while the Region painted the proper road lines.

Darte and Miele, who were both out the day the first day they were uncovered to talk to neighbours and see how traffic was responding, said it’s about time something was done at the corner.

Passersby agreed — during the short time a reporter was on scene, more than four people stopped to express their thanks to the mayor and Coun. Miele for getting the stop signs put up.

Lydia Plett, a retired elementary school teacher who has lived on the corner of Line 3 and Creek Rd. for more than 35 years — 13 of them on the actual corner — said she is “extremely grateful.”

She said living so close, she’s “seen and heard” all of the accidents that have happened.

“You hope it’s not your kids,” Plett said.

“But it’s somebody’s.”

Darte said he hopes people will spread the word around that the four-way is now active, so traffic will start to get used to the signs.

Niagara Regional Police officers were on scene the first day to make sure traffic got the message.

Traffic Enforcement Sergeant Adam Carter said as of noon they’d issued around a half a dozen warning tickets.

He said around one in 15 cars was ignorning the signs, but that it was likely just because it’s unknown.

The speed limit on Creek has also been lowered to 50 and 60 coming from Hwy. 55.

Coun. Terry Flynn agreed that the speed reduction would be a help in preventing accidents along Creek Rd.

Flynn, who doubles as superintendent of operations for Niagara EMS, said although it might impede the flow of traffic, he’d rather be slightly inconvenienced that have to get another call about an accident and wonder “who is it this time?”

He said the trouble the town had originally had with the intersection was the road is controlled by the Region, not the town.

He said town council had battled with the Region for years about the intersection, having to fight tooth-and-nail to get a flashing light installed above the stop sign on Line 3, and to put up a sign warning traffic that through traffic on Four Mile Creek doesn’t stop.

None of that helped.

Plett thanked Miele for his Facebook video, which seemed to be the catalyst in finally seeing some solution.

 Now, the struggle will be enforcement of the intersection, said Carter, noting the intersection is still not the most ideal spot, and that even stopping, drivers can see if the person headed down Line 3 is intending to stop.

He said there will be a learning curve for town residents.

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