North Glengarry supports Champlain on Highway 417/34 intersection

Council members in North Glengarry Township unanimously agreed this week to support a motion passed by Champlain Township asking the province to install traffic lights at the intersection of Highway 34, Highway 417 and Tannery Road.

The resolution, approved by Champlain council in August and forwarded to North Glengarry for support, was approved by the neighbouring council at its meeting on Monday, September 12.

North Glengarry Councillor Eric MacSweyn had previously said he expected the entire council to support the motion, which calls on Glengarry-Prescott-Russell MPP Jean-Marc Lalonde to petition provincial officials to install traffic lights at the intersection.

"We all agree it's a problem area, it's not a surprise to anyone, and we do want a solution to what the problem is," MacSweyn told The Review. "We want a solution there, and if it isn't traffic lights, it's whatever the solution is."

Champlain's resolution highlights the fact that its fire services department "has been called to the scene of many of these accidents at said intersection." This fact has been mentioned to The Review by members of the fire department, while on the scene at recent accidents.

"The council of the Township of Champlain, in its desire to make roads more secure for the use of its residents, is concerned with the safety of the intersection of Highway 34, Tannery Road and the southwest exit of Highway 417 going into the Herb's Truck Stop," wrote Mayor Gary Barton. "The statistics from the Ontario Provincial Police show there have been nine accidents at this corner since September 1, 2009, which in our opinion is excessive and will, one day, cause a fatality."

Residents polled by The Review have suggested the problem with the intersection stems from the fact that Tannery Road is located directly across from the highway exit off-ramp; that drivers on both roads travel too quickly; that drivers coming off the highway think the intersection is a four-way stop; and that people simply aren't paying attention.

"As far as I know, it's the only off-ramp in Ontario (spoken to many truckers) where there's a road in front of you," said one local resident. "You usually need to either turn left or right."

Another added: "I think it is because people come off the 417 and see Herb's straight ahead of them, and they don't realize that they have to stop and cross a main highway before getting there. I pass there every day and I see some people doing some pretty stupid things at that intersection. I always take a second look before I go through that intersection, even if I have the right of way."