The intersection of Kent Bridge Road and Ridge Line will be getting a makeover by Chatham-Kent staff to make it easier and safer for traffic.
Chris Thibert, manager of infrastructure services, brought a report back to council recently after being asked in September to get and review a collision report for the intersection and investigate the cost of upgraded warning signs.
In his report, Thibert considered the number and type of accidents at the intersection back to 2011 and measures that would be appropriate to help motorists avoid collisions in the future.
From January 2011 to February 2015, there were 15 collisions; 11 of which were single vehicle accidents. Of those 11, eight were at night (clear conditions), two were during the day (clear) and one was at night (rainy conditions). Thibert said the majority of the single vehicle accidents were caused by collisions with animals or the driver losing control for unknown reasons.
The rest of the accidents were angle (T-bones) collisions with southbound vehicles stopping but then pulling out into oncoming traffic, the report noted.
Thibert said based on the collision type info, his staff evaluated whether there was a need for flashing beacons and speed limit reductions at the intersection.
In his report to council, Thibert recommended that existing road signs be relocated further from the intersection and updated to ensure they are reflective, surrounding trees be trimmed or removed to ensure visibility for motorists, and that an advisory speed of 70 kilometres per hour be implemented along Ridge Road at the Kent Bridge Road intersection, and the owner of the property on the northeast corner be contacted about trimming cedar trees on the southwest end of the property.
The cost of the recommendation is estimated at $3,000 and will come from the Public Works general maintenance budget.
Council passed the recommendations.
