In an article in this week’s Chatham Voice, on page 14 to be exact, reporter Pam Wright details how Chatham-Kent council greenlit putting an asphalt doughnut in place at the intersection of Merlin Road and Queen’s Line.
It’s a dangerous intersection where lives have been lost. Something needs to be done.
But, as we have questioned in this space in the past, is a roundabout the right thing to install?
Now, with an updated price tag of $6.5 million, we stress, again, it is not.
First off, this is not Europe; this is Canada. Drivers are quite unfamiliar with how roundabouts function. There will be collisions along this stretch of road as a result of the installation of the roundabout. Granted, they will likely be at slower speeds than what has transpired in the past.
Council
As for price point, this was initially to be a $2.1-million project. A price quoted in 2021. But we all know how slowly things are done at the government level. Where a private-sector project might take months, a government one takes years.
And now, thanks to inflation and the decision to rehabilitate a nearby bridge, the price tag is more than three times higher.
At a time where Chatham-Kent ratepayers are facing disturbing tax increases, is shelling out $6.5 million the wisest course of action here?
You cannot put a price on lives saved, but perhaps there are more affordable options.
There are flashing red lights atop standard-sized stop signs on Merlin Road on either side of the intersection currently.
That’s it.
With the plan to slow traffic to 60 km/h at the intersection from 90 km/h on Queen’s Line, how about we beef up the signage? Add a flashing yellow light in each direction over Queen’s Line. Larger stop signs on Merlin Road would be smart as well, along with speed reductions heading to the intersection.
So, bigger and additional signage, as well as additional lighting.
We think that will help make the intersection safer, and will cost a heck of a lot less than $6.5 million.
It’s not a perfect fix, but it’s an affordable improvement. And that’s what council must consider with potential tax increases approaching double digits looming.
This is a dangerous intersection and instead of spending needless dollars on a roundabout that will cause collisions, why not put in stop lights that are only triggered when a car is sitting at the lights at each end of Merlin line?