Prince Edward OPP and local first responders attend a motor vehicle crash at the intersection of County Rd. 1 and Highway 62 in the summer of 2021. (Jason Parks/Gazette Staff)
The next step in placing a traffic circle at the County’s most treacherous intersection has been announced.
Stantec Consulting Ltd. are the detail designers for a roundabout at Highway 62 and County Road 1. In a announcement made Wednesday, the province committed to improving local road safety, creating good-paying jobs and protecting Ontario’s economy in the face of U.S. tariffs and global economic uncertainty.
“Our government is investing $30 billion to build the highway infrastructure we need to keep our province moving forward,” said Ric Bresee, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Transportation. “The new roundabout at Highway 62 and County Road 1 continues our plan to deliver safe, reliable roads that hardworking Ontarians can depend on as we expand our highway network across the province.”
The two-stop intersection sees a spate of motor vehicle crashes each year and the frequency tends to increase with summer season traffic volume. Several provincial Ministers of Transportation including current Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria and his predecessors Caroline Mulroney and Jeff Yurek have made site visits to the intersection and pledged to develop a safer solution.
“We’ve heard from our community that a roundabout at the corner of Highway 62 and County Road 1 would be a welcomed safety initiative to reduce the potential for collisions at that site,” said Bay of Quinte MPP Tyler Allsopp. “The detailed design work is an important final step before tendering the construction. I’m pleased that our government is helping us move one step closer to getting shovels in the ground.”
The detailed design of a new roundabout will include plans for includes existing pavement, modifying entrances, improving drainage and installing new lighting and landscaping.
The design phase takes around 12 months. Groundbreaking will take place in 2027. Cost estimates for the project will be available following the completion of Santec’s detailed design.
Mayor Steve Ferguson greeted the announcement with appreciation.
“Advancing the Highway 62 and County Road 1 roundabout project to the detailed design stage is an important milestone for our community,” the mayor said in a statement. “This project will address the long-standing safety concerns at this intersection. We’re grateful for the provincial support of this critical project and ongoing investments in Prince Edward County’s transportation infrastructure.”
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