Queen’s Line/Merlin Rd. improvement options
The municipality wants to improve the intersection of Queen’s Line and Merlin Road to make it safer, but it seeks the public’s input into just how to do that.
The municipality hired an engineering consultant to examine the intersection and evaluate two intersection design alternatives.
The first is to rebuild the intersection with a roundabout.
Second, re-do the intersection with eastbound and westbound left-turn lanes on Queen’s Line, and add a traffic signal.
Area resident Kari Stadnick said improvements at that intersection are long overdue.
“We have seen so many accidents and near misses at this intersection in our 16 years here,” she said. “When they changed the speed limit to 90 (km/h), we thought it was ridiculous because traffic was already going 90.”
She added speeds regularly top 100 km/h now.
Stadnick said she thinks the turn lanes rather than a roundabout would be the preferred option.
The public is invited to Public Information Centre event online to review all information regarding the intersection improvement project, including the consultant’s evaluation report outlining their analysis and recommendations.
The virtual PIC will be available for viewing on the Let’s Talk CK webpage at www.letstalkchatham-kent.ca from now until Dec. 23. The opportunity to submit questions or comments will be available on the webpage. All public comments received will help the project team and Chatham-Kent council in the decision-making process.
If you are unable to visit the website, and would like an information package, contact the municipality by phone at 519-360-1998 or by e-mail at ckinfo@chatham-kent.ca.
Roundabout for sure!
Keep the traffic flowing, especially when there is an incident on 401 and traffic is diverted to Queens Line.
People using the road make mistakes (like speeding, running stop signs and red lights, turning left in front of oncoming traffic), always have and always will. Crashes will always be with us, but they need not result in fatalities or serious injury.
Modern roundabouts are the safest form of intersection in the world – the intersection type with the lowest risk of fatal or serious injury crashes – (much more so than comparable signals). Modern roundabouts require a change in speed and alter the geometry of one of the most dangerous parts of the system – intersections.
The reduction in speed to about 20 mph and sideswipe geometry mean that, when a crash does happen at a modern roundabout, you might need a tow truck, but rarely an ambulance. Visit the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety or FHWA for modern roundabout FAQs and safety facts.
Modern Roundabouts are proven safer than signals (FHWA):
https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/provencountermeasures/roundabouts/
https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/intersection/innovative/roundabouts/