At around the same time the City of Sault Ste. Marie issued a news release about the traffic study at Wallace Terrace and Goulais Avenue, a two-vehicle collision happened this afternoon.
Police were called to the scene.
SooToday will have more on this intersection soon. Several drivers were seen treating the intersection as a four-way stop, even though only Goulais has stop signs now after traffic signals were removed.
Here’s the city’s news release:
The City of Sault Ste. Marie is launching a traffic study at the intersection of Wallace Terrace and Goulais Avenue to assess the most effective long-term traffic control measures for the area. As part of this study, the existing traffic signals at the intersection will be temporarily removed.
This initiative follows a City Council resolution aimed at enhancing traffic management and safety across the community. During the trial period, stop signs will be installed on Goulais Avenue only. A pedestrian crossover will be added to support pedestrian access through the intersection.
When approaching a crossover, motorists and cyclists must come to a complete stop when pedestrians are present, indicating their intent to cross. Vehicles must remain stopped until pedestrians reach the opposite sidewalk. Pedestrians must cross only at marked crossovers and wait for traffic to stop before crossing.
City staff will closely monitor traffic patterns, pedestrian activity, and overall intersection performance throughout the study. Additional signage will be placed to guide drivers and ensure the safety of all road users. Staff will evaluate the results, considering safety, traffic efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.
Community feedback is a critical component of the study. Residents, businesses, and anyone who regularly uses the intersection are encouraged to complete a short survey at saultstemarie.ca/trafficsignalstudy. Public input will be gathered over the next three months, though the study period may be adjusted based on ongoing observations.
A final report summarizing the findings and public feedback will be presented to City Council with a recommendation on whether to permanently remove or reinstate the traffic signals.
The City thanks the community for its patience and engagement as this important study gets underway. For more information, contact the City’s Engineering Department at 705-574-1016 or email engineering@cityssm.on.ca.