St. Clair Township Mayor Jeff Agar wants traffic lights at the corner of Petrolia Line and Kimball Road.

The intersection has been the site of dozens of accidents over the years.
Joleen DeGurse MacDonald started a petition for the county to rebuild the intersection after a gravel truck collided with an SUV in May 2020 killing the transport driver. DeGurse MacDonald’s family has lived at the intersection for generations and she wrote a passionate letter explaining how many people had died and how it had impacted the people who witnessed the crashes.

St. Clair Township championed the idea at the time saying a roundabout is the only way to avoid T-bone accidents. The only other option St. Clair put forward at the time was a set of traffic lights.

County councillors at the time said it would be discussed at budget. Both the 2021 and 2022 discussions were completed without including a long term fix at the intersection.

But Agar says something has to be done. “There was talk of a roundabout there a year or two ago… now it will be five or 10 years before its done.
“I’ve been talking to people involved in serious accidents out there – there have been fatalities. I think it is time we have to do something,” he told county councillors Feb. 1.

He’s suggesting stoplights be placed at the corner until a roundabout is possible. “A roundabout is a good thing but it is going to be 10 years – how many more people are going to pass away.”

County staff said there are a number of issues surrounding the idea including there isn’t enough traffic in the area to warrant a stop light according to Ministry of Transport guidelines. There would also have to be land purchased for a roundabout. And, officials said it could be a barrier to a heavy haul corridor for large equipment movement.

Agar says there is a sense of urgency saying “If one little light can save one life, it is worth it to me.”

The move will be discussed during the 2023 budget.