91原创 Township council voted against a staff recommendation, opting instead to turn the intersection of 72 Avenue and 248 Street into a four-way stop.

Council had requested a report earlier in March about the feasibility of changing the intersection, which has long been a two-way stop.

For years, 72 Avenue has been a through road, while traffic coming up south from 248 Street, or down Telegraph Trail from the north, met a stop sign.

The staff report offered two options: keep the intersection as it was, or change it to a four-way stop.

The report noted that based on traffic surveys, there was no reason to switch to a four-way stop, and that changing to a four-way stop could in fact increase east-west delays during peak hours.

"Consequently, staff recommend maintaining the intersection as a two-way stop," the engineering division report said.

"However, if a conversion to a four-way stop is desired, it could be implemented and funded by existing transportation operating budgets."

The report went on to say that staff could keep monitoring the intersection and implement traffic control changes in the future, if needed.

Councillor Barb Martens noted that the report explicitly recommended against the changes, but the rest of the council voted in favour of the switch to a four-way stop.

Coun. Kim Richter suggested that there was a relative need for the change, especially given a liquor licence being granted to one of the nearby farm properties.

Staff noted it will take about three days of work to set up the new stop signs and red flashing lights at the intersection, and the project can be done within the existing transportation budget.