Wellington County rejects call for Arkell intersection improvements

GUELPH – Wellington County has no plans for changes to the main intersection in Arkell after a residents’ group petitioned Puslinch for safety measures.

Puslinch council voted in July to ask the county to review the intersection and present its findings and recommendations to township council.

County engineer Don Kudo told county council on Sept. 24 there was a “movement study” completed last year, and that no “further improvements to the stop control” were warranted at the “low collision intersection.”

“We have 16 intersections right across the county that do warrant improvements; those are in our capital budget, this is not one of those intersections, but we can continue to monitor the location for if there’s any change,” Kudo said.

County roads committee chair Gregg Davidson told council the area should have a 70km/h speed limit, as per Transportation Association of Canada guidelines, rather than the current 50km/h posted limit.

Puslinch Mayor James Seeley pushed back at the meeting.

“Is the review just to tell us that it should be a 70 instead of a 50 and we should be happy with a 50, and that there’s only been one collision? Because that was not the intent of council,” Seeley said.

Two county roads intersect in Arkell, Watson Road South (Wellington Road 41) and Arkell Road (Wellington Road 37). The intersection is busy with commuters travelling south to Highway 401 and with east-west traffic on Arkell Road.

The residents’ group Concerned Citizens of Puslinch has petitioned township council for painted pedestrian crosswalks and flashing red lights on the intersection stop signs. 

The group also wants a 40km/h speed limit through the hamlet, as well as police enforcement, bollards and an electronic speed sign on the township’s stretch of Watson Road South.

“There’s all sorts of options, but it was just simply a ‘no,’” Seeley told the Advertiser.

“We weren’t trying to jump the queue and get ahead of the other 16 intersections that have been identified.

“But we feel there’s some responsibility to help these citizens if there is a possibility, and we just didn’t see that.”

In an email, Kudo stated the Arkell intersection “has lower traffic volumes and lower collisions than intersections on the county’s intersection priority list.”

But Seeley argued the county can still take action, saying it lowered the speed limit near the new Two Rivers Secondary School on Arkell Road at the City of Guelph’s request without the same review.

In May, county council lowered the speed limit from 70km/h on the county’s stretch of Arkell Road leading into the new school zone to match Guelph’s speed reduction, Kudo said.

Seeley also argued bollards seemingly popped up on Brock Road (Wellington Road 46) in the spring without communication.

“Staff clearly have the ability to do some sort of traffic calming measures, and they’re just choosing not to in Arkell, and I’m just not satisfied with that,” the mayor said.

Kudo said the Brock Road measures – including bollards and speed radar signs approved by council this year – replaced automated speed enforcement there.

“Speed radar signs, centre line bollards and pedestrian crossing markings have been installed in Arkell over the past couple years,” Kudo added.

At the council meeting, Seeley asked Kudo relay the county’s decision in writing.

Kudo confirmed he emailed Puslinch on Oct. 2, also noting two other intersections in the township – where Wellington Road 35 meets Concessions 1 and 2 – meet requirements for improvements, and are on the county’s priority list.

Seeley said Puslinch council would report back to residents and “continue advocating for some improvements.”

Black Cats

The mayor also asked about speed monitoring on township roads now that the county has taken over installing and monitoring Black Cat radar units from the OPP.

Kudo said at the meeting the county hasn’t engaged municipalities about their use.

Previously, municipalities could raise concerns with police, who would install the units, which record vehicle speeds.

“So now we have a reduction in service,” Seeley told the Advertiser.

Kudo stated in an email the county is meeting with police this week to discuss road safety, including the Black Cats.