Highway 62 and Schoharie Road is one of Prince Edward County’s most notorious intersections, famous for near-misses and collisions. Despite changes to the stop signs and the addition of a flashing overhead light it remains dangerous.

Staff Sgt. John Hatch of the Prince Edward OPP reports that “so far this year we’ve had three collisions” at this intersection, “two of them resulting in Personal Injury, and one was only Property Damage.” Of the twenty-five collisions over the past five years, ten have resulted in personal injury. Most of the collisions take place in the summer on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday and involve cars travelling eastbound on Road 1 failing to yield right of way. That is, they fail to recognize that it is not a four way stop.

The intersection has been slated for safety improvements. A study, with special attention to targeting a failure to yield right of way, to identify both short-term and long-term improvements is underway.

Changes being considered are either to signalize with left-turn lanes on Highway 62 or a roundabout.

These options will improve the overall safety of the intersection, generally maintain the existing alignments of both Highway 62 and Prince Edward County Road 1, minimize impacts to private property including businesses, and minimize impacts to the surrounding natural environment.

S/Sgt Hatch noted a roundabout at the intersection of County Rd. 1 and Loyalist Parkway has made that intersection much safer.

“Prior to my arrival here at the detachment, the staff were getting accident calls to that intersection regularly but since the roundabout was installed, I’ve only attended one accident there and that was weather-related,” Mr. Hatch said. “The roundabout has done wonders for making that intersection much, much safer for motorists.”

Full information, including visualizations of proposed changes, and an invitation to comment (by August 12) can be found at the project’s online Public Information Centre, www.Hwy62PEC1.ca .