A new stop sign is being installed at an intersection in a residential neighbourhood just west of downtown Owen Sound to address safety concerns.
City council approved a staff recommendation at its meeting Monday to erect a stop sign at 8th Street and 3rd Avenue West, to greet westbound travellers on 8th Street.
The change would make the intersection an all-way stop.
Owen Sound's Director of Public Works and Engineering Dennis Kefalas says the city received email and verbal complaints from residents in the neighbourhood who observed several “near misses” at the intersection.
According to Kefalas, southbound drivers on 3rd Avenue West are regularly failing to yield to traffic on 8th Street, sometimes even advancing into oncoming traffic. Residents also complained many drivers are not indicating turns.
“During (an) inspection, staff actually witnessed the issue raised by residents when a vehicle on 3rd Ave. West failed to yield to them as they were driving along 8th Street West,” a city staff report explains. “After parking their vehicle, staff witnessed the same thing happen again in a very short time period.”
Kefalas says the safety concerns at that intersection have been amplified by increased traffic volume due to the closure of the 10th Street Bridge.
In addition to the new stop sign, paint markings will also be updated to improve pedestrian safety at the intersection's crosswalk.
Kefalas expects the work will be complete in early March.