Council still battling over Romeo St. intersection

Tori Sutton
Staff Reporter
Stratford council continues to be at odds over the Romeo Street and Delamere Avenue intersection.

An update on the intersection turned into a lively debate at Monday night’s meeting, with some councillors unhappy with the study period.

George Bowa, director of engineering and public works, said the examination of the intersection would take place after Ontario Street construction wraps up by the end of September.

CAO Ron Shaw said traffic patterns will change once Ontario Street upgrades are complete.

However, Coun. George Brown, who lead the initial push for a three-way stop at the intersection, feared it would be late 2009 before council receives a final report. Despite assurances a report would be received in the fall, he questioned the sensibility of undertaking the study when the theatre-season traffic is slow.

Coun. Paul Nickel said the intersection has been a problem for decades and doubted the Ontario Street widening would change anything.

“It was a problem 20 years ago, it was a problem 10 years ago and it is a problem now,” he said.

“We should be acting on it sooner than later.”

However, Coun. Keith Culliton argued not all citizens have a problem with the intersection and many don’t mind waiting a few minutes to turn.

Coun. Bonnie Henderson said people who live on Delamere Avenue aren’t concerned with the intersection, but rather would like to see upgrades where Delamere meets Mornington Street.

“It’s not that big a deal,” she said, suggesting the Griffith Road and Lorne Avenue intersection is busier and more difficult to manoeuvre.

However, Henderson’s stance angered Coun. Dave Gaffney, who accused her of detracting from the issue at hand. He said if there are other intersections that concern her, she should bring them up as separate issues.