Roundabout or right-turn lane? If you’re talking about the oft-congested intersection of Goulais Avenue and Second Line West, there is no shortage of strong opinions.
Earlier this year, the City of Sault Ste. Marie paid $705,000 for the building on the northeast corner of the block — then promptly tore it down, making way for whichever traffic-improving measure is ultimately chosen.
Which option does the mayor support? Roundabout, or right-turn lane heading west to north? We asked him that question when he stopped by our SooToday studio last week to discuss his latest six-month progress report.
“I dislike traffic signals, and part of my report discusses the traffic signals we've removed,” Matthew Shoemaker said. “I know that's a topic of hot debate in the community, but a roundabout gets rid of the traffic signal.”
That said, the mayor acknowledged that plenty of pedestrians cross that intersection everyday, including many students from nearby Korah Collegiate.
“Frankly, I think it's a bit too busy of an intersection for a roundabout,” Shoemaker said. “A turning lane could go in this year within the existing capital budget, so I think that a turning lane is most practical to get something done there now…We bought the building, we should improve traffic in the area by putting in a turning lane right away.”
He said he anticipates a staff report on the issue to come to council next month, followed by a vote.
“I expected it to be on this coming Monday's agenda,” Shoemaker said. “This is a fairly heavy agenda with all the police stuff on it, so I suspect it'll be in the June agenda. It's going to be before the roadwork gets tendered for this year.”
Based on his conversations with fellow councillors, does he expect most will see it his way?
“At this stage,” the mayor replied.
So the possibility of a roundabout is pretty much dead?
“I think that you've probably gotten all the clicks you'll get from that,” he joked.
You can watch Mayor Shoemaker's full interview HERE.
Today's council meeting will be live-streamed on SooToday starting at 5 p.m.
