Wal-Mart traffic signals an uncomfortable question

News — 28 July 2010

While a grassroots effort to demand a set of traffic signals near Wal-Mart on Hwy. 17 is gaining popularity among locals on the Internet, no one seems to agree whose responsibility it would be to install them, should the idea ever come to pass.

While turning out of Tim Hortons, July 1, Amanda Lupien’s vehicle was struck by another vehicle pulling out of Wal-Mart, causing over $5,000 in damage.

Lupien’s Facebook page, titled, Install Lights At Wal-Mart Before There’s Another Accident has gathered a groundswell of support, amassing 300 members in the past few weeks.

Dryden Police Services has confirmed that there have been a total of 14 accidents in that area since 2002. Four at the east entrance of Wal-Mart, while the remaining ten were at the west entrance. Although the total number seems high, that averages at less than two accidents per year.

Blake Poole, member of the City of Dryden Traffic Committee reports, “There have been no recent formal requests to council on this matter, that have been forwarded to the traffic committee as of today.”

According to the Ontario Traffic Manual, Book 12, there is certain criterion that must be met to install traffic lights. One of those criteria is “Five or more reportable collisions of types preventable by traffic control signals have occurred during each of the three preceding twelve month periods, each collision involving personal injury or property damage which appears to be serious enough to be reported to police.”

According to the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) Enforcement office, the section of highway that runs through the city, is in fact the responsibility of the city, not the province. Regardless, the MTO, as written in the Traffic Manual Book, still has to approve any changes.

“The MTO would still have to approve the traffic signal designs and installation for any connecting links for traffic signals,” states Poole. “MTO still has to approve any request for signals to go in.”

Lupien has plans to approach city council on this matter, and see if she can make a difference. She also plans on putting out a petition to the residents of Dryden.

“It is pointing more and more towards Dryden’s responsibility, and we need to get a petition to show that money needs to be found for it,” says Lupien.

Lupien says there is all manner of conjecture around the issue that confuses the issue around where responsibility lies for traffic signals lies. She says she has been told to have been told that the section of Hwy 17 that runs through Dryden is at its maximum for lights, that there isn’t enough money in the budget, and that it’s the province’s responsibility, not the city’s.

“There has been talk that they can’t install another set of lights there because they’ll have to put in a by-pass, “ says Lupien. “They don’t want to put in a by-pass because it will take business away from town.”

Considering the maxed out response for lights, Lupien suggests that there are two sets of lights that are not necessarily needed in the city.

“There are two places in town that really don’t need lights on the highway: the government building and the set by Marguerite Street,” says Lupien. “A four way stop would suffice or a yield sign.”

By Ally Dunham

Related News

The Kenora District Municipal Association staged its annual general meeting in Sioux Lookout, Feb. 2-4. Photo by Chris Marchand

First Nations relations important theme at KDMA meeting

By Chris Marchand Woven throughout last week’s Kenora District Municipal Association annual general meeting was the theme of creating social and economic dividends through closer ties between the region’s native and ...

By-election will replace Wood

By Ally Dunham With Mike Wood announcing his resignation as councillor from the City of Dryden, his seat was officially declared vacant at the Feb. 1 special meeting called by council. Acting ...

KDMA warned of political pitfalls of closed meetings

By Chris Marchand Dryden city council delegates heard a presentation on the dangers of in-camera meetings — a subject they already know a thing or two about, Feb. 2 at the ...

Serena Ryder performing at The Centre, Feb. 2. Photo by Chris Marchand

Ryder a season highlight

By Chris Marchand The simplicity of a woman and her guitar were more than enough to satisfy a room packed to the rafters for the highest profile show of the 2011-12 ...

Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation members picket the entrance to the Treasury Metals site, on the Tree Nursery Rd. near Wabigoon, Jan. 24. Photo submitted

Treasury responds to WLON protest

By Ally Dunham Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation (WLON) council authorized a peaceful demonstration in order to reflect their disappointment with the manner that they believe Treasury Metals has dealt with their ...

City playing catch-up with OMPF

By Ally Dunham A delay in submitting the City’s audited financial statements from previous years has resulted in the witholding of provincial funds by the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF). The city ...

Water meter billing model in development, expected in Spring

By Chris Marchand Residents and businesses could begin getting a preview of the city’s new metered water billing process as soon as April. City of Dryden Director of Engineering Michael Louttit says ...

Menard takes role as youth liaison officer at DPS

By Ally Dunham Dryden Police Service Constable, Terry Menard, has a new position with the detachment. Menard will now take over the job of the Youth Liaison Officer. “This position is not ...

Eagles girls’ hockey team take silver

The Dryden Eagles girls’ hockey team captured silver in the Pembina Ladies Tigers hockey tournament in Pilot Mound on January 27-28. The Eagles finished first in their pool with wins of ...

MPP seeking input on highway conditions

By Sarah Campbell, MPP Kenora-Rainy River In the last couple of months, my northern caucus colleagues and I have been raising concerns about the standards being used to maintain our highways ...