A new four-way stop is going up in the south end of Timmins.
Putting in the new stop signs at the corner of Spruce Street South and Kirby will also mean changes to the intersection.
Right now, the intersection is a two-way stop, with east-west traffic on Kirby stopping before crossing Spruce. Timmins council recently approved putting up stop signs on Spruce Street as well, along with no parking areas.
The new stop signs are expected to be installed in mid-September.
“We’re looking at this in the eyes of safety because it’s one thing to put stop signs, but you have to see oncoming traffic. People will start going through and if you can’t see them, that causes another safety hazard,” manager of engineering Pat Seguin told council.
“We realize that stop signs, there’s a legal requirement to stop, but people will slide through, people will speed through. I think it’s important when you approach an intersection you see oncoming traffic that’s going to cross that street.”
Near the intersection, there is an apartment building, and businesses – including Battery Battery, Discover Fitness, Parts Source and Golden Paw Pet Grooming.
Seguin told council that six of 22 parking spots would be lost with the changes, but noted there is a city parking lot just east of the intersection.
Earlier this year, a report from Timmins Police Chief John Gauthier showed an increase in crashes at the intersection over the past five years. The number went from one in 2012 to seven in 2017.
