Lit stop signs go up on Albert Street at Dennis as latest part of study

Lighted stop signs and more clear signage has been added to the intersection of Albert and Dennis streets, after city council voted to remove the traffic signals during an ongoing traffic study by the City of Sault Ste. Marie to improve traffic flow.

The signals were previously covered with black fabric but all-new lighted stop signs were put up on both sides of Dennis Street, with a sign indicating that traffic on Albert Street has the right of way.

City council recently voted to permanently remove the signals from that intersection, as well as from Queen Street and Church Street.

Sometimes controversial, the traffic study was one of the topics of discussion in a recent video interview between Mayor Matthew Shoemaker and Michael Friscolanti, Village Media's editor-in-chief.

"When we need traffic lights because traffic patterns have increased somewhere, we always add a traffic signal but we rarely take them out when traffic patterns mean that they are no longer warranted," Shoemaker said in the interview.

"Traffic isn't what it used to be at Dennis and Albert. Traffic isn't what it used to be at Queen and Church, when you had 15,000 people working at the steel plant all driving through these intersections."

Shoemaker said he has so far advocated for eight signals to be removed from different points in the city.

He also acknowledged there has been a number of motor vehicle collisions at some of the intersections that have fallen under the traffic study and had their signals removed.

"I don't think that the city is responsible for accidents when they happen at those intersections," said Shoemaker. "I think there are changes to traffic patterns all of the time — adding roads or opening up new lanes — you have to be cautious as a driver and you have to understand what the rules of the road are."

Shoemaker acknowledged there may be clearer ways to take the lights out of commission other than simply covering them with a black sack.

"There's probably a discussion that could be had on that, but ultimately that's the traffic department's role to determine how best to study these intersections," he said.

Shoemaker also noted there will be discussions had about how to permanently remove signals that are deemed unnecessary after the study is completed.

In the interview, Shoemaker was asked about a possible roundabout or right turn lane proposed for Second Line and Goulais Avenue.

Shoemaker noted the sale of the building at 628 Second Line West, which would be demolished to allow for either of those two options, was recently completed.

"The turning lane is cheaper and quicker but the roundabout, I think statistically, would show that traffic flows better," said Shoemaker. "I've driven across the river, I've seen how the traffic roundabout works there. I think lots of Canadians drive there, it seems to work."

Shoemaker acknowledged if a roundabout was built in that intersection, it would take drivers time to get used to it.