New traffic lights to cut down on accidents

By Sarah Yannetta

The problematic intersection at Wallbridge-Loyalist Road and West Moira Street will be seeing a new set of traffic lights in May.

The intersection has been causing havoc for drivers for the past 20 years and Quinte West Mayor John Williams has been focused on the situation for four years.

The Belleville and Quinte West councils have agreed to share the cost of the new traffic light system for the intersection that sits on the border of the two cities.

Stories posted online late last year about the proposed solution had some people wondering if a light system was the best choice for the intersection. Many people were giving suggestions of roundabouts, stop signs and caution lights.

Some people also wondered whether the lights would bring new problems, such as running red lights because of the rail overpass hill just north of the new lights location.

Kyle Ball, a Loyalist student, said he agrees with the lights system, but with conditions. “They could lower the speed limit to 60 km over the bridge, and technically it’s leading into a school zone too. That would also warn drivers that they need to slow down and put signs up about the lights too.”

Joe Jackson, a member of the Loyalist community said, “They could also put a light or sign at the top of the hill to warn on coming traffic about the lights after the hill. I’ve seen this before.”

Mayor Williams has been watching comments like these online and said all ideas have been looked at and the lights system is the best choice for that intersection.

Williams gives the example of the lights at Millenium Parkway which is north of Hwy. 401 on Sidney Street. Before these lights there is a flashing light on the south side of the 401 that gives drivers a heads-up about the light ahead.

There will be a flashing light on the north side of the hill on Wallbridge-Loyalist Road that will flash when the light is yellow and red. The light won’t flash when the light is green.

“They’ll also reduce the speed through there too. It’s 80 km now and they’ll probably reduce that to 60 or even 50 km,” said Williams.

Ball said he and his girlfriend always have problems when they go that way to get to the college because of the backed up traffic. He thinks a new traffic light system is a great idea.

Williams said the engineers will be designing the system over the next couple of months and construction should start in April or May.