The 3-way stop at the Stanley Bridge intersection (St. Mary’s Road and Rattenbury Road) was confusing for tourists. To solve the problem the Department of Transportation designed and issued a tender for a roundabout – without consulting any local residents or businesses (they found out by reading the tender notice in the newspaper). A cheaper and simpler 4-way-stop solution was proposed but declined, and a modified version of the roundabout solution was pushed through after consultations with residents. It cost $200,000 and was implemented in September 2016. The 4-way-stop solution could have been tested during the summer prior to the implementation, but this idea was rejected.
Now there are issues with the markings not being visible because of snow cover. To solve this problem snow was piled in the center of the roundabout, but this is causing even graver concerns with trucks that must use part of the center to fit through the roundabout, and with visibility of traffic coming into the roundabout.
References
- Feb 9, 2016 – Facebook discussion (27 comments as of Feb 10th)
- Feb 8, 2016 – Ryan Simpson – Snow piled in center of roundabout obstructing view of oncoming traffic
“The reason I am contacting you today is that I am concerned with the traffic circle in Stanley Bridge, which I know you are familiar with. With all of the snow piled in the centre of the circle, the view of oncoming traffic is extremely obstructed, and if the road conditions were very dark or slippery, I fear that someone approaching may be struck by another vehicle or collide with the very large mound of snow in the centre. Living in this area, I never felt any concern whatsoever taking the drive from my house to Kensington, North Granville or New Glasgow, but now I am approaching what I consider one of the most dangerous intersection on Prince Edward Island less than a kilometre from my house. I hope you can raise my concerns to the government as a member of the opposition and as a resident of the area. I hope for you to contact me in the near future. I am also sending similar emails to Minister Biggar and the local CBC branch.“
- Feb 2, 2016 – CBC – Stanley Bridge roundabout’s snow mound ‘hazardous’ and ‘impassable,’ says truck driver
- The province has piled snow in the centre to let drivers know the intersection is a roundabout
- Feb 1, 2016 – CBC – Stanley Bridge roundabout front and centre in MLA’s parody song
- Jan 14, 2016 – CBC – Stanley Bridge roundabout snow woes could have been avoided, says PC MLA – ‘There is a lot of I told you so’s going round about’
- Jan 4, 2016 – CBC – Stanley Bridge’s painted roundabout covered by snow – Low traffic volume in winter means snow-covered roundabout is safe, say officials
- Nov 12, 2015 – CBC – Stanley Bridge roundabout covered in skid marks – Traffic circle attracting drivers who like to burn rubber
- Sep 25, 2015 – CBC – Stanley Bridge roundabout is 1st of its kind on the Island
- “Instead of guiding traffic with concrete barriers or medians, the Stanley Bridge roundabout directs traffic with bright yellow paint.”It is colourful,” said Stephen Yeo, the chief engineer for the Department of Transportation.”
- Sep 22, 2015 – CBC – P.E.I. government expropriates land for Stanley Bridge roundabout – Landowners and province couldn’t reach agreement on price of land
- “The P.E.I. government has expropriated approximately 1,000 square metres of land to make way for work on the Stanley Bridge roundabout.Stephen Yeo, the chief engineer for the province, said the owners live outside the province.”Through the Expropriation Act they have the right to go through the courts and get a judge to put a price on it,” he said.
“We have done an independent value of the land and we had done negotiations and couldn’t reach an agreement on the price of the land. Then we went this avenue, with the Expropriation Act.”Yeo said the independent assessment valued the property at $5,900, but it will be up to the courts to decide the final price paid.He notes the province has already taken over the land for the road improvements.”
- “The P.E.I. government has expropriated approximately 1,000 square metres of land to make way for work on the Stanley Bridge roundabout.Stephen Yeo, the chief engineer for the province, said the owners live outside the province.”Through the Expropriation Act they have the right to go through the courts and get a judge to put a price on it,” he said.
- May 22, 2015 – CBC – Stanley Bridge to get mini-roundabout – Construction will begin the end of August, say transportation department officials
- May 20, 2015 – CBC – Stanley Bridge roundabout plans revised – Some residents say four-way stop sign might be less costly, more effective
- Mar 31, 2015 – CBC – Stanley Bridge roundabout project to get a second look
- Mar 6, 2015 – CBC – Stanley Bridge roundabout meets with opposition – Intersection changes not ‘justifiable,’ says local resident
- “A roundabout planned for the intersection in Stanley Bridge is being opposed by some local business people and residents.The roundabout will be located at the intersection of Rattenbury Road and St. Mary’s Road (which turns into Cavendish Road Route 6).Tenders went out Thursday for the $200,000 project, which could begin this spring.Stanley Bridge resident Linda Young believes a four-way stop is the answer for the intersection — which is the western gateway to the tourist centre of Cavendish.“
Take Me ‘Round the Roundabout Again
I was driving home from Summerside
In pouring, driving rain.
Through Kensington, New London,
Then to Stanley Bridge again.
The 3-way stop was tricky
And I slowed to look both ways,
For tourists it’s confusing every day.
Turning through to Cavendish,
They don’t know what to think;
At the R&A, they ask for help,
And buy themselves a drink.
Perhaps a 4-way stop would aid
Those coming from away;
But a roundabout would really make my day.
Reading through the paper,
On a Monday afternoon;
Lamenting those 3 stop signs
As I paced around the room.
When what to my surprise,
At the bottom of page 5.
A tender for construction caught my eye.
There’d been no consultation.
Did Dwayne and Phyllis know?
Or was this a special project
Coming straight from Stephen Yeo?
On the tender that was issued,
The words were very plain.
They’re going to build a roundabout again!
CHORUS
Round again, round again;
Driving ‘round a roundabout,
Rarely makes me grin.
A stop sign is much cheaper,
And simple to put in;
But take me ‘round the roundabout again!
There was a public outcry.
How could it be like this?
For 40 years it’s been that way,
And nothing was amiss.
At least they could have asked us,
And tried to learn our views,
Especially from the Women’s Institute.
There finally was a meeting,
Even Carolyn was there,
Six people from the DOT,
With every angle shared.
Frustration reared its ugly head
When during the exchange,
The government declared they wouldn’t change.
Finally there was compromise,
A second meeting held,
We’re going to paint the lines on;
No curbs to slow you down.
It’ll be a little bigger,
And will cost a little more,
But you’ll really love the plan we have in store.
CHORUS
Round again, round again;
Driving ‘round a roundabout,
Rarely makes me grin.
A stop sign is much cheaper,
And simple to put in;
But take me ‘round the roundabout again!
We talked of it all summer,
It was coming in the fall.
Why not try a stop sign? We might
Not need it at all?
The morning crew at R&A
Reviewed it every day
Was a recipe for trouble on the way?
It was finished in September,
The first one of its kind.
Some did donuts in the middle,
And said it worked just fine.
$200 grand of asphault,
With poles and lights to boot,
And if you wanted, you could even drive straight through!
CHORUS
Round again, round again;
Driving ‘round a roundabout,
Rarely makes me grin.
A stop sign is much cheaper,
And simple to put in;
But take me ‘round the roundabout again!
Things were going pretty well,
It wasn’t hard to use,
There was a fender-bender,
Driver error the excuse,
But soon the snow was falling,
As winter came our way,
And you couldn’t see the lines
On snowy days!
To the roundabout at Stanley
We’ve all had to adjust.
They might pile snow in the middle
So driving ‘round it is a must.
But soon it will be summer,
Bringing tourists and the rest,
And we’ll put the roundabout
To final test!
CHORUS
Round again, round again;
Driving ‘round a roundabout,
Rarely makes me grin.
A stop sign is much cheaper,
And simple to put in;
But take me ‘round the roundabout again!
CHORUS 2
Round again, round again;
Driving ‘round a roundabout,
D’ya think we’ll ever win?
They’re spending our tax dollars,
So you’d think they’d listen in
But take me ‘round the roundabout again!
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