Roundabout at "S-bends" could take precedence over Teviotdale structure

Wellington County’s roads department is considering postponing construction on a planned roundabout at Teviotdale in favor of installing one at the intersection of Wellington Roads 8 and 9.

On June 30, county council approved a roads committee recommendation to proceed with a roundabout feasibility review for the intersection of Wellingotn Roads 8 and 9.

Known locally as “the S-bends,” the intersection is shared with Perth County, meaning an agreement would have to be reached with Perth if a roundabout were to be constructed, as 50 per cent of the cost would be paid for by Perth.

A staff report from county engineer Gord Ough notes that during the annual spring road tour of Mapleton Township, the intersection of Wellington Roads 8 and 9 was reviewed due to a high incidence of accidents and a fatality in 2015.

“The intersection has poor geometry wherein Wellington Road 8 approaching Wellington Road 9 has an ‘S’ curve that continues through the intersection and onto Perth Road 91,” Ough noted in his report.

“The ‘S’ curve creates less than optimum sight lines at the intersection and may contribute to driver error and, in turn, the higher incidence of accidents.”

Ough said attendees on the road tour agreed the intersection should be reviewed for the feasibility of a roundabout.

“It was also decided that if a roundabout were to proceed at the intersection of WRs 8 and 9, that the proposed roundabout at the Teviotdale intersection would be rescheduled to a later year to allow for the WRs 8 and 9 roundabout to proceed first,” the report states.

“The appropriate adjustments of the 2017 budget and five-year capital plan would be made to account for the change in projects.”

Staff were also directed to commence conversation with Perth County about partnering to construct a roundabout at the intersection of Wellington Roads 8 and 9 (Perth Roads 140 and 91).