Warwick Township is exploring the possibility of traffic lights at Nauvoo Road and Confederation Line.
During its recent meeting, council directed staff to investigate costs associated with the installation of traffic lights at the intersection.
Councillor Wayne Morris said safety improvements need to be included in the design, which is already underway.
"I don't know if lights are the answer or what the answer is, obviously we're not going to get another roundabout there but we definitely need something to slow the transports coming down, they hit that Presbyterian Church and they just floor it," said Morris. "There's been a few accidents there but one of these days it's going to be a real serious one. I think we need to look at how to slow that traffic down in the area in general.
Public Works Manager Andrew Maver said the idea of lights was looked at during a traffic study a few years ago.
"This study concluded within a five year horizon, lane widening of all approaches, to accommodate a through right lane and exclusively left-turn lane be selected as the preferred functional design alternative," said Maver. "Traffic lights were not recommended at the time of the study, which was June 2020, however at any time council has the right to make whatever decision they feel appropriate."
Maver said the design phase of the capital project, to reconfigure the intersection, is about 90 per cent complete.
"In 2021, there was $25,000 added to the budget for engineering and the next year an engineering firm was selected called BT Engineering to carry out the design," said Maver. "Since then we've been working with them....and as part of the design, we've made the decision to plumb in the lights so to speak, where there will be conduits underneath the lanes so if council at any time, or if conditions warrant, traffic lights could be installed at that location."
Council also directed staff to investigate the possibility of including a couple of parking spaces along Nauvoo Road in the design.
