Ellis Road residents are worried about when, not if, accidents will happen at the intersection of Ellis and Townline Roads.
Tammie Corrigan and John Mondy were at Puslinch council on Aug. 15, along with a large contingent of supporters, looking for solutions.
Townline Road is a shared road on the boundary of both Wellington County (Puslinch Township) and Waterloo Region (Cambridge).
Mondy presented councillors with flyers outlining the situation with the intersection.
Mondy said “We need a traffic light, a four-way stop, or something to control traffic before somebody gets killed.”
Corrigan explained that in 2007 the Region of Waterloo stated that lights were warranted at the intersection.
“We’re wondering why five years have passed and no traffic signal has been put up – especially in light of the development in the adjacent area of Cambridge.”
Corrigan said driver frustration is the biggest issue.
“The waits are so long, people are taking unnecessary risks to get onto the road. And traffic there is only getting worse,” she added.
Corrigan added there are elderly people and small children living in the Ellis Road area.
This hinders their quality of life, because the intersection traffic deters those people from attending certain events, she said.
“We’re just asking council how you can help us push this forward.”
Councillor Ken Roth said, “Obviously this is a big concern to residents.”
He also noted the Region of Waterloo is also looking into the matter – so they too understand this is a serious situation.
“If we can do anything to help, we should. This is a safety issue.”
Councillor Wayne Stokley commented that he bicycles in the area frequently and said that crossing the road is both difficult and dangerous.
“I’m not too sure that there is any time of the day when traffic ceases, or slows down.”
He agreed that if there is anything council could do to make the corner safer, “it is important to do.”
Councillor Susan Fielding recommended sending a letter of support, via Wellington County, since it appeared Waterloo Region was dealing with the county on the matter.
“A letter from our council supporting our residents to get a traffic light or something to make things better would be a good first step to get the ball rolling.”
Mayor Dennis Lever agreed.
“I’ve used the intersection a number of times, although I do try to avoid it, for the reasons stated tonight.”
He also agreed that the traffic volumes have increased dramatically in recent years.
Lever noted the north/south Townline Road is a combined county/regional road, even though Ellis Road is a township road.
Council agreed to send a letter to the region and the county asking that the time lines be moved up to address the issue.
The delegation also voiced concerns with large transport trucks parking on the sides of Townline and Ellis Roads because they are not allowed into the residential subdivisions.
Complaints have been lodged with the police, but there are no ‘no parking’ signs. That part can be rectified, said councillor Susan Fielding.
Lever said that message would be carried to the county as well.
“There has never been anyone parked there when I’ve used the intersection and it was bad enough then.”
Lever added that the township roads superintendent should be included in the process as well.
