A plan to incorporate a $200,000 roundabout in a complete rebuild of Frederick Street here didn’t get a smooth ride at a public meeting on Tuesday evening.
About 150 people attended the presentation at the Arthur community centre hosted by Wellington County, which is undertaking the $2.7 million rebuild along with its engineering firm, Triton, and Wellington North Township.
Armed with several drawings of the proposed roundabout, which will be located at the intersection adjacent to the arena and swimming pool, county engineers spoke about the benefits of the first planned roundabout in the northern part of the county.
The project would also see the township upgrade water and sewer services and replace sidewalks under its jurisdiction – for about $1.7 million out of the overall $2.7-million total.
But it was the proposal of a roundabout to improve traffic flow at the intersection of Wellington Road 14 and Frederick, Domville and Eliza streets that captured the interest of residents at the March 18 public meeting.
A similar presentation to township council on Feb. 10 raised concerns among councillors about the effectiveness of the roundabout to improve traffic flow and slow vehicles down.
There was mixed reaction among those that spoke with the Advertiser, with a majority opposed to the idea of a roundabout.
Carolann Morrison said she couldn’t see the benefit of the plan and voiced concern about whether a roundabout would improve safety for kids crossing at the busy intersection.
“I know it’s not safe the way it is, but I’m not seeing this as safer,” she told county engineer Mark Eby at one of the diagram stations set up on the upper floor of the arena.
Eby said experience with other roundabouts in the county have shown traffic flow is improved and slowed down.
Several residents shared the view that the intersection is dangerous, particularly when crossing from Domville to Eliza.
Al Rawlins, who lives on Domville, knows how difficult it can be to cross to Eliza because of poor sight lines down Frederick toward Highway 6 at the centre of the village.
Rawlins said he could support the roundabout, as opposed to traffic lights.
“I think it (a roundabout) makes sense because the transport truck speed is high,” Rawlins said. “I don’t think traffic lights would work because of the irregular shape of the intersection.”
Arthur business owner Mary Schmidt wasn’t convinced a roundabout is the right fit for the location.
“I’m not sure it’s a good corner for a roundabout,” she said. “I think it’s going to cause more confusion.”
Schmidt was referring to motorists not knowing how to drive through a roundabout, a concern raised by several people at the meeting.
Eby said he believes once motorists experience the roundabout it will become easier to negotiate.
Councillor Andy Lennox, who raised initial concerns about whether the roundabout could accommodate transport trucks and large farm vehicles, said he attended to see whether his concerns were addressed.
One diagram shows the roundabout could handle groups of vehicles with a combined length of up to 120 feet.
Pauline Lane and her husband Charles, whose home is located close to the intersection of Eliza Street, are also opposed to the roundabout.
“I think there’s a lot of people saying ‘no’,” Lane said.
The couple prefers traffic lights over a roundabout to stop traffic and allow for pedestrians, particularly children, to safely cross to the arena and swimming pool.
John O’Donnell likes the roundabout idea.
“I think it will do what the (engineering consultants) want,” he said. “It will slow traffic to a reasonable speed.”
But lifelong Arthur resident Linda Pringle couldn’t support the roundabout.
“I’m opposed to it,” she said. “I think they should do a bypass.”
According to Pringle, discussion about a truck bypass in Arthur has been around for many years and would involve rebuilding a section of Wells Street between the Conn Road and Highway 6 (at the north end of the village near the Musashi plant) to divert truck traffic around the community.
“My husband is a truck driver and a bypass would take them right to Musashi,” she said of an alternative to routing traffic, including trucks, along Frederick Street.
Eby said the Wells Street alternative has never been considered an option because it is not owned by the county and would, if developed, be the responsibility of the township.
“To build Wells Street is not our intent,” he said.
Bent and June Nielson oppose the roundabout.
“There’s not enough room for it,” Bent said.
Officials have explained the county would take space from its works yard on the south side of the intersection to create the roundabout and oversized vehicles could drive up on the roundabout to negotiate the circle. But June was not convinced.
“It’s a matter of just using caution,” she said referring to the intersection that is already there. “I’m against (a roundabout).”
Councillor Dan Yake said the intersection is dangerous.
“It’s something that needs to be done with that intersection. If the roundabout is the way to do it, we have to consider it,” Yake said. “It’s a busy intersection with lots of kids there, with the pool and the arena.”
Yake credited the county and its consultant for making the public presentation.
“They’re asking the municipality for their input,” he said. “That’s important to the final decision. This has been on the books for many years and now the county is ready to go and we (the township) have to be.”
Eby said the consultant will compile the information provided by the residents for a report to the county. However, he would not speculate on what the final decision might be.
“We’re not against rebuilding it the way it is,” he added.
The issue, once all responses are compiled, will also go back to township council.
The county is hoping to get the work started by mid-year.
