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McGuinty Government Improves Road Safety In Prince Edward County
TORONTO, Oct. 17 /CNW/ -
NEWS
Ontario is improving the intersection of Highway 33 and County Road 1
west of Picton, by converting it from a traditional intersection to a
roundabout.
In a roundabout
(http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/engineering/roundabout/hwy33.htm) all
vehicular traffic circulates counterclockwise around a central island. When
compared to traditional signalized intersections, roundabouts are safer and
environmentally friendly. They reduce speeds, traffic delays, fatalities, air
and noise pollution.
The government awarded the $2-million construction contract to Lafarge
Paving & Construction (Eastern) Limited of Belleville. Work is underway and
will be complete by summer 2009. During the early stages of construction,
Highway 33 will occasionally be reduced to one lane through the intersection.
During the later stages of construction vehicles will be guided through the
configuration with traffic barrels. It is expected that County Road 1 will be
detoured for two 12-hour periods while the highway is being paved.
QUOTES
"Roundabouts are safer and more efficient than traditional signalized
intersections. They also help protect the environment by reducing greenhouse
gas emissions produced by unnecessary idling and stopping," said
Transportation Minister Jim Bradley
(http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/about/minister.htm).
"I am really pleased that we are converting the Highway 33 intersection
to a roundabout. Roundabouts improve intersection safety by reducing speeds
and help prevent serious collisions," said Prince Edward-Hastings MPP Leona
Dombrowsky (http://www.premier.gov.on.ca/team/biography.asp?MPPID=44).
<<
QUICK FACTS
- More than 5,200 drivers use Highway 33 daily.
- Roundabouts already exist on many municipal roads across Ontario, but
this is the first one on a provincial highway. Studies show that
roundabouts reduce all types of crashes by an average of 39 per cent
and injury crashes by 76 per cent.
- Since 2003, the McGuinty government has committed approximately
$9 billion in highways, roads and bridges and invested $7.4 billion in
transit.
LEARN MORE
Read the Ontario government's five-year investment plan in highway
construction (http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/pubs/nhp2007/index.html) for
Southern Ontario.
Visit great Ontario travel destinations (http://www.ontariotravel.net/).
Get up-to-date road condition information
(http://www.roadinfo.mto.gov.on.ca/) on major highways in the area. You can
also call the ministry's road information line at 416-235-4686, or toll-free
at 1-800-268-4686.
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For further information: Nicole Lippa-Gasparro, Minister's Office, (416) 327-1815; Bob Nichols, Communications Branch, (416) 327-1158
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