
Trouble brews at a hazardous intersection in London, Ontario, a problematic hotspot first brought to the public’s attention by a local news feature. The cul-de-sac located between Queens Avenue and English Street is exhibiting promising signs of long-awaited change. The City Council has embarked on a venture to ameliorate the troubled crossway with the installation of temporary traffic lights.
For Greg Gilles, a resident whose abode adorns the southwest corner of the intersection, these changes are a sigh of relief. For months, he’d been living on the edge every time he ventured onto his grass-encircled territory. His apprehensions were not unfounded.
Only a week prior, a horrific accident had transpired mere moments after he and his partner vacated their usual spot on the turf. The aftermath—an SUV parked unceremoniously amidst their garden foliage—could have spelled catastrophe had it occurred scant minutes earlier, he conceded. “That’s why we’ve been on this cause. The SUV that just missed us got impacted. It found its resting place in our garden.”
Once a regular crossing, the intersection of Queens Avenue and English Street has garnered a reputation for gruesome accidents following municipal modifications to include bicycle lanes. Near-misses became commonplace, to an extent that despite being flagged for just an hour during the first interview with the local news team, the intersection witnessed numerous hair-raising incidents. Our lens also caught a rogue vehicle breach the bike lane in an adventurous left turn onto English Street.
As Gilles elaborated on the situation to the interviewer, another almost-accident unfolded in the background. His following exclamation—”That happens all day”—summed up the ordeal faced by residents.
Initially dismissive of the concerns, an administrative representative claimed ignorance over “any explicit apprehensions at the intersection of Queens Avenue and English Street.” However, Gilles observed minor changes implemented at the crossroads days after their formal exchange.
The recent issue of a letter to the citizens confirmed CTV News’ information that permanent traffic lights will be installed at the agitated intersection. Additionally, temporary lights will be operational shortly, and fresh pedestrian crosswalk buttons have already been installed. The city officials’ actions stood as a testament, according to Gilles, that the efforts of citizens and the media could catalyze change.
He sincerely hoped the value of these changes would manifest in increased safety and fewer accidents. “Something crucial needed to happen before this became a site of fatalities or serious injuries, and I believe the city officials understood that,” he reflected. In the end, it was all about ensuring the safety of residents and passersby alike, a prospect that Gilles found quite reassuring.