Major makeover coming for Punkydoodles Corners

It’s been years in the making as now one of the region’s more famous intersections is set for a significant realignment.

Work is expected to begin in the coming weeks to improve safety at Punkydoodles Corners following years of crashes ranging from minor fender benders to fatal collisions.

Punkydoodles Corners is located southwest of New Hamburg and touches portions of Wilmot Township in the Region of Waterloo, Zorra Township in Oxford County and Perth County.

According to a report to Oxford County Council, the improvements will see the addition of new southbound left turn lane, northbound right turn lanes and declaration lanes along the curve on Perth Road 101.

“Two portions of road will be permanently closed. Not construction closed, permanently closed. And that will effectively eliminate two of the total of six intersections that exist there now,” he said. “The intention is that at the remaining intersections, there will be less things for people to have to observe before they enter any of the intersections.”

Oxford County Warden, Zorra Township Mayor, Marcus Ryan, told The Mike Farwell Show the work will simplify the area.

The design will see the area transformed into more of a T-intersection as opposed to the Y-configuration it is now.

When asked if a roundabout was considered, Ryan said it was, but the numbers didn’t add up.

“We did three rounds of traffic counts at this intersection. And, when they used the highest case traffic numbers for the intersection to evaluate it, not only does it not meet the threshold for a roundabout now, it doesn’t meet it for the next 20 years projected traffic volumes,” he said.

But Ryan did say they will continue to monitor volumes and revisit the matter when needed.

The price tag for the project is estimated at a little over $1.3 million, that includes all taxes and fees. The funding will be split between Oxford County, Perth County, Wilmot Township and the Region of Waterloo.

The work is expected to begin in July and extend likely into November. Although Ryan couldn’t give a more precise timeline, saying they’ll know more once construction begins.