With reference to my letter sent to Council in 2015 , it is disappointing that no commitment by council was made to pursue with MTO the installation of a flashing amber/red light at the Ferndale intersection.
Installing a set of traffic lights at Ferndale will continue to be a hard sell with MTO. I believe a flashing amber light for north/south traffic would go a long way in calming speed and would be an easier sell with MTO as a “trial project.”
Please discuss and make a commitment to pursue. Our safety on highway 6 continues to be an issue. It’s all about driver behavior modification.
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The following is an excerpt from Mr Barrow’s 2015 letter to MNBP CAO and council.
Re: Ferndale / Hwy 6 Traffic Concerns
I read with interest the latest issues of The Bruce Peninsula Press which referred to council discussions on the issue of traffic flow through the hamlet of Ferndale. Concerns with speed, traffic control, distractions, signs and lighting have prevailed at this intersection for many years.
A letter was sent to the OPP in 2001 by the Central Bruce Peninsula Chamber of Commerce (now dissolved). Subsequent to the 2001 letter, an onsite meeting was held in Ferndale which included two people from the MTO London Regional office, Staff Sergeant Hillman and myself. Speed enforcement was discussed, distractions that multiple portable signs pose, defined entry and exit to businesses, the installation of traffic lights, right hand turn lane for Lion’s Head, intersection lighting. Also there are no passing lanes to use when vehicles are making a left hand turn onto Bruce Rd.9.
The engineer from MTO did say the installation of traffic lights was simply not feasible. Sergeant Hillman offered to set the wheels in motion to establish a highway 6 designated safety zone through Ferndale which would establish increased speeding fines.
Since 2001, the right hand turn lane into Lion’s Head was improved. There was an attempt to better define business entry and exit with roadside curbing. Extra large STOP signs were installed. An over head sodium vapour light was installed to help identify the intersection at night. From time to time the digital display “speed sign” has been located on highway 6 which does help remind drivers of their speed and I believe helps calm traffic. However it is rarely in operation.
As a year round resident residing west of the Bury Road I maneuver through the Ferndale intersection everyday and sometimes at night. I have witnessed many near misses and driving practices contrary to the HTA particularly speeding, passing on the right and failing to stop.
The establishment of the safety zone is good for increased fines but does not calm the majority of traffic traveling north and south particularly during the summer months. Additional advanced hamlet signing on the highway as mentioned in the last Peninsula Press will not, in my opinion help calm traffic. In fact they will add even more information to the existing
tourism signs for the driver to consume rather than concentrating more on the posted maximum speed and oncoming hazardous intersection.
However, consider these two viable ideas that might help calm traffic through Ferndale.
1. Replace the existing standard size 60km/h advance (60 ahead) signs with extra large signs. MTO have these in stock but are usually used on 400 series highways.
I believe the larger advance sign would have a more calming effect than the installation of more “hamlet / decorative” signs suggested by MTO.
2. The most significant improvement to the intersection would be the installation of a RED / AMBER flashing light mounted above the centre of the intersection. This is an installation common at some county road intersections. However it is not likely looked upon too favourably by MTO engineers.
However, the flashing light would help identify to drivers they are approaching an intersection, particularly during periods of poor visibility, at night and heavy traffic. The flashing amber light would help calm traffic moving north or south through the safety zone. And it might help to remind drivers traveling east and west on Bruce Rd. 9 to STOP at the intersection. A flashing amber light would more than compliment the existing overhead sodium vapour light. Remember when driving you respond to light and colour.
There is a flashing amber light installed on Highway 21 at the Bruce Rd.14 intersection.
I would ask the MNBP seriously consider the above referred ideas and approach MTO with the conviction of making these installations because they are in my view worth the effort.
If you need further information in this regard please don’t hesitate to contact.
Regards,
Dave Barrow
