A report from the chief of police about the increasing number of accidents at a Timmins intersection worries Coun. Andrew Marks.
The Ward 5 councillor asked for details on crashes at the corner of Spruce Street South and Kirby earlier this year to determine if a four-way stop is needed.
Right now, the intersection is a two-way stop, with east-west traffic on Kirby having to stop before crossing Spruce. The only sidewalk is on Kirby west of Spruce.
Timmins Chief of Police John Gauthier’s report shows an increase in crashes over the past five years — from one in 2012 to seven in 2017.
“I don’t want us to have a whole bunch of four-way stops and I don’t want that to become the very quick fix for this council to be able to put in a four-way stop when we get a phone call or an email from a resident, but I know that it has increased over previous years in that particular area,” Marks said.
Near the intersection, there is an apartment building, and businesses – including Battery Battery, Discover Fitness, Parts Source and Golden Paw Pet Grooming.
“If you think back to not too many years ago, that end of Spruce wasn’t nearly as travelled as much as it is today,” Marks said.
Marks noted the area has “maxed out any growth potential” and that they need to look at what changes are needed to make sure vehicle and pedestrian traffic are safe.
While Coun. Pat Bamford agrees that he doesn’t want to see four-way stops everywhere, he said there is something “outside the parameters of normal” when it comes to visibility and speed of traffic in that area.
“All of us have been at that intersection and quite frankly that’s one that gives me a start every time I’m there because it seems that traffic comes on to you very fast, or you can’t see it — you have to edge out,” he said.
“I think that corner warrants something. I’m not sure what that is.”
Coun. Mike Doody, who also represents Ward 5, drives across the intersection daily. He noted there is a blind spot, as drivers have to inch out to cross.
The item was directed to the engineering department for recommendations.
You can read Gauthier's full report on the number of collisions and conditions here.
