Photo by Colin Williamson
The city’s community services committee has recommended the installation of a four-way stop at the intersection of Parkridge Drive and Arbourwood Drive. A serious two-vehicle collision took place at the intersection a few weeks ago.
The City of Oshawa’s community services committee is taking steps to improve the traffic safety of two of its north end neighbourhoods.
The first area of concern is on a stretch of Ormond Drive, from Woodmount Crescent to Coldstream Drive (east of Ritson Road).
Two residents, Alan Smith and Ron Bremner, presented their concerns to the committee at the latest meeting.
Smith has spoken with the committee about this issue previously.
Bremner said that while the speed limit in the area is 50 km/h, people usually drive much faster.
“It becomes a drag strip at different times of the day,” Bremner said, adding he has witnessed cars speeding as fast as 100 km/h.
The area includes Kedron Public School and a Chartwell retirement residence, which Bremner says results in many children and seniors at risk by the speeding vehicles.
Many of the residents are at their wit’s end, and reverse into their driveways to avoid having to back out onto Ormond Drive.
Bremner says there is further development planned in the area, and this will continue to be a problem.
“There is a huge tsunami coming on Ormond Drive,” he said.
The problem will only get worse according to Ward 1 regional councillor John Neal.
“It has expanded and so is the whole north end, and we are feeling the pressure of speed. We have to reduce the speed.”
The committee was unanimous in supporting a recommendation to city council to reduce the speed limit in the area to 40 km/h.
One resident, Kevin Fenlon, made a request for a four-way stop at the intersection of Parkridge Drive and Arbourwood Drive, located between Grandview Street North and Townline Road North.
Only a few weeks ago, the intersection was the scene of a major collision, Fenlon said, and there have been multiple crashes over the 16 years he has lived in the area.
Fenlon repeated an earlier comment, saying at times the roadway becomes like a “drag strip” and there are often children playing in the area.
Neal agreed with the request, stating that “you cannot get a clear view of what’s going on unless you have that four-way stop.”
Past instances of accidents at the intersection are bound to be repeated, he said.
“Somebody is going to make a mistake…but it’s going to be worse. It should be done right away.”
Regional councillor Rick Kerr, Ward 4, wanted city staff to perform and analysis of the intersection, and use data to determine if the four-way stop is actually needed.
“I’m concerned that we don’t go through due process and allow staff to do the job,” he commented.
Ron Diskey, commissioner of community services, stated if there was a need for the four-way stop it would likely already be in place, and a staff recommendation should be based on warranted criteria.
Ward 4 councillor Derek Giberson said these types of safety concerns may be part of a bigger issue of how subdivisions are being designed, something he believes may need to be addressed sooner rather than later.
“We almost literally have to go back to the drawing board,” he said.
Neal’s motion to have a four-way stop installed at the intersection was passed, with Giberson and Ward 5 city councillor John Gray also in favour. Kerr and Ward 3 city councillor Bradley Marks were opposed.
Source: Oshawa Express