Vernon councillor schooled on four-way stops

Vernon councillor Brian Quiring is eating some crow when it comes to advance warning signage on four-way stops.

“I received a little lesson this week on four-way stops,” Quiring said. “The first day of the (temporary) four-way stop at the intersection of 32nd Avenue and 34th Street, there were several near misses and one hit. Over 50 per cent of vehicles were not stopping.”

Work started in June on a major reconstruction project on 32nd Avenue between 33rd and 35th streets from the Beach Radio/Vernon Matters/MQN building, east to OK Tire. Quiring is a partner in MQN.

The project included the rehabilitation of about 285 metres of road, water main and storm sewer, and sanitary sewer replacement. The project also included some sidewalk replacement and upgrades, and the installation of a new traffic signal at the intersection of 32nd Avenue and 34th Street.

Quiring had previously been skeptical of the need for additional signage and the $180,000 cost of converting the temporary four-way stop at 20th Street and 43rd Avenue.

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“I’m still not in favour of spending $180,000, but these best practices that Miss Watson (Amanda Watson, Manager of Transportation) quotes are there for a reason,” Quiring said. “Miss Watson was on scene (32nd Avenue and 34th Street) in minutes and had changes made within hours to move the stop signs closer to the intersection, and have the warning signs moved. Kudos to her.”

Council had previously disregarded Watson’s advice and national road standards on the 43rd Avenue/20th Street intersection which suggests there will be more accidents at that location if a four-way stop is made permanent.

Staff are still reviewing possible solutions to that intersection after a $180,000 redesign was rejected as being too elaborate.

The four-way was originally supposed to be temporary as part of a detour, until the work on Pleasant Valley Road was completed. Neighborhood residents successfully petitioned to have the four-way made permanent.

The traffic lights at 32nd Avenue and 34th Street won’t be turned on until December 13th, due to a delay in getting power to the system.