All-way stop a go for high-traffic intersection in Hespeler

Drivers will have to look more closely after an all-way stop at the three-way intersection of Franklin Boulevard and Adam Street was approved by Cambridge city council Tuesday night.  

A report from city staff included a recommendation after ‘a turning movement count’ was conducted over an eight-hour period at the intersection.

The study took place on a weekday during the school year according to the report. Results determined that an all-way stop is warranted due to the gradual increase of traffic volumes.

Councillor Mike Devine moved the motion to convert the intersection to an all-way stop. City staff will monitor the area semi-monthly for one year and report back to council on the impact of traffic in the area and on the effectiveness of the stop.

“I don’t have a problem with a three way stop. But if you look at Queen St. coming up to Adam Street there is a hill. Between there and Tannery Street East, you might have less than 100 yards. This is a problem,” Devine said.

“If you go from Tannery Street West to Adam Street which is a very short distance of about 120 feet, in that section there are two hills. Traffic going up Guelph Avenue when it’s busy, is very concerning. Traffic will get backed up from Franklin Boulevard down to Guelph Avenue. It will be even worse in snowy conditions. I’m not saying we should not be putting a three-way stop there, but this should definitely be monitored for one year. This is a very dangerous area in the winter.”

Devine proposed that the entire area be monitored for one year.

“In the summer months, roads are closed and that causes traffic as well. And in one year, if we need to find another another solution, we will,” he said.  

But Kevin De Leebeck, director of Engineering for the City of Cambridge, said that based on the description councillor Devine mentioned, that type of monitoring would require several cameras to be running for a year.

“We don’t have those assets to deploy. The best we can do is conduct a periodic warrant analysis at the intersection to see how well it is performing over the course of a year,” De Leebeck said.

“Monitoring the traffic of all these streets would be very cumbersome and there would be financial implications.”

Councillor Mike Mann said that motor vehicle collisions at that location will also help provide feedback.

The city has agreed to monitor all complaints resulting from an all-way stop at the location in combination with information received from Police Services which will be included in a report back to council in one year.

“I’m sure that with that said, there will be lots of complaints,” Devine said.

“But I can live with that.”

All councillors were in favour of the all-way stop except for councillor Pam Wolf and Cambridge Mayor Kathryn McGarry.

The $1,000 cost of stop signs and pavement markings will be funded from the 2022 Transportation Operating Budget.