Centre Wellington Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj admits it will take her some time to get used to a roundabout at the intersection of Metcalfe and McNabb Streets.
But the mayor, and everyone else travelling in the southern portion of Elora, will be facing the same learning curve after council voted unanimously on Monday night to build a roundabout at the intersection when Wellington County starts major work on Metcalfe Street this year and next.
Council had heard four proposals in November, and held a public meeting to hear comments on those plans in December.
Triton Engineering’s Denis Hollands presented the results of that meeting on Monday. He said 55 people attended, and 25 left written comments.
Of those, six favoured doing nothing, nine liked the roundabout plan, six liked the idea of realigning Water and McNabb Streets and closing Victoria Street, and one person favoured realigning Water Street and closing McNab and Victoria Streets.
Hollands said three others left comments that did not deal with any of the proposals, asking instead why council is catering to cars or why it was spending the money.
The roundabout option includes several changes to the streetscape. Water Street would be realigned to come directly to Metcalfe Street, at a right angle. High Street would have a stop sign before it enters Water Street. The section of High Street to the south of Water Street would be closed and refinished. Drivers heading north on High Street would have to stop at Water Street and then make a left turn to reach Metcalfe Street.
Water Street, on the west side of Metcalfe Street, would be closed as well.
At McNabb, Victoria, and Metcalfe Streets, there would be a roundabout, with something in the middle to act as a block to traffic.
Hollands said large trucks could make the turns with an easy curb on the outside made of decorative concrete or interlocking brick. At the same time, Victoria Street would be closed and become a one way street heading north, towards Carlton Place.
The roundabout would operate counterclockwise, Hollands said.
As well, there will be changes at the liquor store. The entrance to the LCBO would remain one-way, with two way traffic to Water Street and on Clyde Street to Metcalfe.
The changes at the LCBO were included in all four options, as are improvements and changes at the intersection of County Roads 7 and 21.
Hollands told council the county roads committee favours the roundabout option, if Centre Wellington will do the snow clearing on it. The county’s machinery is too big.
Councillor Walt Visser asked if the county will compensate the township for snow removal. Ross-Zuj said if the township wants compensation, the roundabout may never be built. The expense would be with the township.
Public Works Director Ken Elder said the township has a number of machines that can do the snow removal.
Visser noted, “[The roundabout] is the only one that solves all our problems.”
Morris said he assumes most traffic coming off County Road 7 would be heading downtown, and he is not sure if McNabb will see much traffic.
Hollands said people turning south from McNabb when heading east are unsure what southbound vehicles on Metcalfe are going to do. He noted that there have been few accidents at the intersection.
Elder said, though, “The number of near misses are almost a daily occurrence.”
Morris said those driving east and turning south will still have to wait.
Hollands said they would only have to yield, and southbound traffic from Metcalfe will have to slow down to enter the roundabout.
Councillor Kirk McElwain asked about bike lanes in the roundabout.
Hollands said they can be built, and cyclist will have to follow the same rules as vehicle drivers.
Elder said the intersection today is “very unsafe” and the county has tried to make changes there for 15 years. It is now doing work on Metcalfe Street, and now is the time to make corrections.
Councillor Shawn Watters, the township planning committee chairman, said he believes this is the way to go. he said the Region of Waterloo began building roundabouts a few years ago, and after initial complaints, the public now likes them, and would not want to go back to the old style intersections they replaced.
Watters also like the proposed changes to High Street, which is difficult to navigate in winter.
Council voted unanimously in favour of the roundabout proposal. Councillor Bob Foster was absent.
Hollands said later that the work will start in the spring and run through the construction season.
Ross-Zuj added that no plans have been made yet for traffic detours during the work.
