Adam Prudhomme
Beaver Staff
Having heard the many complaints from motorists over the last year, Greater Napanee council voted Tuesday night to explore how to get an advanced green arrow added to the intersection of Centre Street and Bridge Street.
Deputy mayor Marg Isbester put forward the motion, which calls on the traffic advisory committee or Lennox and Addington County, in conjunction with Greater Napanee’s public works and infrastructure department to make a presentation at the next council meeting in August. The presentation would chronicle what the town would have to do to get an advanced green at that intersection.
“This has been a contentious issue ever since we put them in,” said Isbester. “I’ve been doing a lot of watering at the corner here (Isbester pointed out the council window in the direction of the intersection) because as everyone knows it’s certainly not raining.
“I’ve seen three or four really close calls of people who are just trying to get through as quickly as they can. Maybe they sat through one light, maybe they sat through two. I know it’s exaggerated because of Dundas being closed, but I think that we’re just waiting for an accident to happen.”
Isbester also added that among the numerous complaints she’s had from residents and visitors alike are some from members of the volunteer fire department who have been stuck at the light while on their way to an emergency.
“I’m sure there would be a reason that we can’t have it, but I don’t think that’s good enough,” said Isbester. “The people are really having a tough time without it.”
Isbester pointed out that they already have the technology and turning lanes in place to make it happen.
Councillor Max Kaiser agreed, though he had a different way about going about making it happen.
“I think maybe what we need to do is instead of asking for an engineer to tell us what’s right, we need to tell an engineer what we want and ask how to make it work,” said Kaiser.
Isbester’s motion was carried by unanimous vote and a presentation is now expected to take place at the next regular session of council, which will take place Aug. 31.