Construction of a planned roundabout at the intersection of Wellington Roads 8 and 9 won’t be going ahead in 2017.
On June 30, 2016 Wellington County council approved a roads committee recommendation to proceed with a roundabout feasibility review for the intersection known locally as “the S-bends” and located southwest of Palmerston in Mapleton Township.
The intersection is shared with Perth County, meaning an agreement would be needed if a roundabout were to be constructed, with 50 per cent of the cost paid for by Perth.
At the Jan. 26 Wellington County council meeting councillor Gary Williams, roads committee chair, reported the project would not proceed in 2017 because Perth County has “withdrawn” from the project.
Williamson said the project remains in the county’s five-year plan.
Mapleton Mayor Neil Driscoll asked why Perth decided not to proceed.
“We had some very excited residents that (thought) possibly all the deaths at that corner were going to stop,” said Driscoll.
A staff report from county engineer Gord Ough presented to council last June noted the intersection of Wellington Roads 8 and 9 was reviewed for a roundabout due to a high number of accidents and a fatality in 2015.
Williamson said Perth County wanted more information, including police reports on incidents at the intersection.
Since Perth hasn’t done other roundabouts “they weren’t sure of the impact,” he stated.
Ough said Wellington County officials were “surprised” to receive the letter from Perth pulling out of the project and stating “they were uncomfortable moving forward” as it wasn’t in their five-year plan.
CAO Scott Wilson said he has been in touch with his counterpart in Perth and will arrange to send him whatever information the neighbouring county requires.
“It’s important to note that it’s not that they won’t participate, just not at this point in time,” stated Williamson.
