Nackawic-Millville Council asks for meeting with DTI district engineer
Close calls are prompting the Nackawic-Millville council to find ways to make the intersection at Landegger Drive and Route 105 safer.
During the Public Works meeting on Aug. 1, staff discussed a recent phone call and letter from concerned citizens recounting close calls at the intersection.
Councillor Robert Simpson said aside from the two documented complaints, he’s also aware of two recent incidents that could have ended worse.
“As a council, we’ve been aware of this happening repeatedly, and this is an accident waiting to happen.”
Simpson asked that, for their protection and the protection of local citizens, the council needs to make the intersection safe.
He read a letter from a mother dated July 28, where her daughter had a close call.
“She passed a car on Route 105 and having checked her mirrors and side, she signalled and was about to turn in towards the Irving when she was almost hit from the side by the car that had previously been in the turning lane for Landegger yet had continued on to the Irving,” Simpson read.
The letter went on to say that driving incidents like this one have happened on other occasions to her and other members of her family. She said there have been other unsafe scenarios at that intersection.
“When someone has been in the turning lane yet cut across in front of us to pull into the Irving while we were waiting to pull out onto Route 105,” Simpson continued, reading from the letter. The woman noted the intersection needs to be reconfigured for safety.
The Public Works Committee discussed accident risks associated with the current design of the intersection. The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DTI) owns the right of way, including the paved portion of Route 105. Simpson noted they would need to be involved in the decision-making process.
After the discussion, councillors passed a motion asking municipal staff to schedule a meeting as soon as possible with the DTI district engineer.
Council wants to find out what the process would be to improve the intersection, and how long it would take, noting they wanted it dealt with as soon as possible.
Members of the Public Works Committee suggested that property owners and leasees of adjacent properties be invited to a meeting to explain the municipality’s concerns and discuss plans to improve the intersection design.
