By Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
To say there is much anticipation surrounding the opening of the roadways at Punkeydoodles Corners would be an understatement.
Several drone and ground-level photos have been published online by curious bystanders and residents are asking why the intersection hasn’t been open to traffic. Ryan Vink, Oxford County’s project manager, provided the Gazette with an update.
“Construction has progressed well and we are pushing as fast as we can to open the road but we do have a few things left to complete. With line painting and surface asphalt down, people can see the finish line but we have our deficiency walkthroughs scheduled next week, as well as finishing the installation of the electrical works, which is not yet complete and our final step before we can open the road.”
He added with two of the existing intersections now completely closed, the county needs to ensure proper illumination from the new streetlights active for drivers to see the changes at these intersections.
“We are working right now to complete the electrical connections with the utility providers. I think we are getting close. I don’t want to commit to a specific date as I cannot speak for the utility providers, but I am hoping we can have this completed in the next few weeks.”
Ed Danen is the leader of the Punkeydoodles Corners community group and said while they haven’t met over the summer, everyone is keen for construction to be completed.
“I think anybody who lives up and down the sideroads here is more than ready to see it opened up and is wondering why it’s taking so long since it’s paved and painted. The sideroads like 102, 104 and 106 to a lesser extent, are beat. They have been taking a lot of extra traffic for two months now.”
One aspect of the work area residents won’t miss is transport trucks frequenting side-road detours despite the fact they are not designed to carry that type of traffic. Danen believed the county closed Road 102 for a few days to try and curb truck traffic but it wasn’t successful.
“I think that was to get Google to try and take drivers somewhere else but as it was opened up, they came right back but to a lesser extent. Ideally, trucks were to take the roads going north through Shakespeare, but I have a feeling it’s a lot of traffic from the 16th Line.”
Some area residents have been steadfast in their opinion a roundabout is needed in the area, but Danen said he’s taking a wait-and-see approach.
“We will see what happens. If we don’t get the results we are looking for, we will keep the pressure on. I hope they don’t take two weeks to get it open. I was down there (Monday) and had a look around and what I can see is streetlighting is the only holdup. Signage and everything else seem to be in place.”
He added the newly installed turning lanes are nice and wide but there is one challenge he saw.
“From County Road 5 heading west, if you come north on 5 and want to do a left turn towards Tavistock, visibility there could be a challenge. The right turn lane would be right beside the vehicle there and the stop line on the pavement is slightly ahead of the left turn so there will be some obstruction there.”
He added people turning left from the Oxford-Perth Townline could also obstruct the view.
“That’s the one that concerns me. The lines of sight everywhere else look great and the safety is definitely going to be improved.”
The project is ahead of schedule as the original completion date was the end of November, something Danen explained didn’t come as a surprise to him.
“They very well should be because they have had awesome weather and very little need for delay.”
The area farmer also had some advice for motorists ready to travel in the area once it has been opened.
“Be safe and take the time to learn what the new corner is going to do and also have patience. There will be some hiccups at the start until people get used to it. Let’s have patience to see how things play out and hopefully will see an improved movement of traffic.”
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