An intersection out in the farmlands is getting turned into an all-way stop after town staff shared that it’s been the site of multiple collisions over the past couple of years — including five this year alone.
The town will be converting Line 3 and Concession 1 roads into an all-way stop: currently, the intersection has two stop signs on Line 3, while traffic on Concession 1 proceeds without stopping.
Council approved the Line 3 and Concession 1 change unanimously, with no discussion. It also directed staff to spend $8,000 on new signs and pavement markings.
People have been concerned about this intersection for a few years, staff said in its recommendation report to council, receiving reports about frequent near-misses and collisions.
As per its two previous analyses, staff said, the intersection wasn’t busy enough traffic-wise to warrant making it an all-way stop, and in the past, had a low collision rate.
However, it explained, its latest numbers show that it exceeds the minimum collision criteria for such a stop.
The Line 3 and Concession 1 intersection has been the site of four preventable right-angle collisions in both 2023 and 2024 and five collisions this year, staff reported.
Staff attributed the problem to westbound drivers on Line 3 proceeding “when it is unsafe to do so, primarily due to unfamiliarity with the area and two-way stop intersection controls,” staff said in its report.
“Many drivers (consider) the intersection an all-way stop despite warning signage to the contrary.”
In 2023, the town installed an all-way stop at Line 3 and Concession 2, along with speed-control measures such as “tiger tail” striping on signposts and enhanced centre-line markings.
“These measures were ineffective in reducing collision incidence at the intersection,” staff said.
The all-way stop took effect immediately after the vote.
