MELFORT — An intersection near Brunswick School is receiving new street crossing improvements from the city following a professional examination by a traffic engineer.
At the intersection of Bemister Avenue East and Scotia Street there will be concrete inlays built around the curb on three sides that will narrow the intersection itself.
The intersection is located at the east side of the Brunswick School yard.
“When vehicles are passing, it’s narrow enough that they have to slow down to pass each other,” said Rick Lang, Melfort’s mayor.
“We had some concerns from some of the citizens out in that area, that had suggestions for us. They suggested installing a four-way stop sign at that corner but when we had the traffic study done by the traffic engineer, the feedback we got was to do that could potentially cause it to be a more dangerous corner.”
The inlays are expected to be fully installed by Sept. 1. Construction on the inlays is expected to cause temporary traffic detours.
Lang said this change will also improve sightlines so pedestrians can be seen from a distance away, meaning drivers will slow down for them and allow them to cross the crosswalk without potential hazard.
This is one of four intersections around Brunswick School being examined by the traffic engineer.
Another intersection being looked at is Brunswick and Crawford. Lang said there are final recommendations still to come on this intersection.
“All four corners are being evaluated by the traffic engineer. The one that’s under school patrol is the least of our worries because it’s under school patrol, but the other corner, Bemister and Scotia, is the one the people out in that area are concerned about.”
The others being looked at are Crawford Avenue East and Scotia Street, as well as the intersection of Crawford Avenue East and Brunswick Street.
Lang said after the inlays are added, the town will reevaluate the intersections and see if other improvements are necessary.
He said crosswalks have already been added on the intersection of Bemister Avenue East and Scotia Street and two yield signs have been replaced by stop signs earlier this summer.
“Crosswalks have been repainted and added as well as some additional signage to alert pedestrians that there are crosswalks there they have to follow,” Lang said. “There have been an increased police presence as well monitoring that intersection.”
The traffic engineer also recommended the city discuss having a supervised safety patrol during specific hours with the North East School Division. A supervised safety patrol would be run and funded by the division, should it be formed.
Lang said the city informed the division of the recommendation.
