The conversation continued this week about the safety or lack thereof at the intersection of Melbourne Road and Glendon Drive that borders Southwest Middlesex and Strathroy-Caradoc following another fatality early Tuesday morning. Residents have been putting pressure on Middlesex County who is responsibile for both roads to install more safety precautions. Southwest Middlesex Mayor, Allan Mayhew, says he has spoken about the intersections numerous times to County officials, and the area does meet required standards.
Mark McGill, Southwest Middlesex Ward 1 Councilor, says despite the intersection being MTO approved, more needs to be done to prevent further fatalities.
County Council is waiting on the official Police report before moving forward. Local resident Tim Hamilton reached out to myFm to discuss this issue, and says how many reports is it going to take to make change.
One possible solution that has been discussed in the public is a roundabout. There is a new one now in operation at Nauvoo Road and Egremont Drive and one coming to the 5 corners intersection at Glendon Drive and Vanneck Road. McGill says he’s not against the idea.
Hamilton, tells myFM a roundabout is something to look into again because it will slow the speed down.
He goes on to say the only head on collision in a roundabout is if someone drives through the middle of it. McGill says history says there has been improvements done to the intersection after the last fatality.
McGill believes any type of lights at the intersection would help as well, possibly adding a flashing light to the top of the Stop signs, or even re-introducing a flashing hanging light over the center of the intersection which was present at this exact intersection a long time ago but removed by the county. A red flashing light that would face Melbourne Road with an amber light flashing and facing Glendon Drive. Mayor Mayhew wanted to emphasize that although he believes more can be done at this intersection we need to acknowledge the elephant in the room.
myFM reached out also to Middlesex County Warden Cathy Burquardt-Jesson and County Engineer Chris Traini. The Warden sent myFM this statement on Wednesday of this week. “Obviously, I am aware of the accident yesterday morning. It was a topic of discussion among colleagues yesterday at County Council. Council is awaiting the outcome of the investigation into the accident. We have requested that we receive the report so that we can review the information and from there, a determination can be made in regard to whether any additional improvements are required to improve the safety of our intersections.”
Chris Traini also replied to myFM stating no comment at this time until the police report has been reviewed.
Police identified the two individuals who died in Tuesday’s crash at the intersection being 32-year-old Jody Hamers and her father 66-year-old Chris Hamers. Jody was born in Listowel and lived in the community of Fordwich, and Chris originally a native of the Netherlands lived in nearby Gorrie.
written by: K. Close/C. Soares
