Two years ago the City of Clarence-Rockland hired a consultant to do a traffic study to determine whether some of the narrow streets within the Town of Rockland and any of the villages should be designated for one-way traffic only. An administration report received during the February 17 committee session of council noted that the municipal office has received “a significant number” of complaints about traffic hazards for pedestrians in the residential areas of some narrow streets.

“Complaints are mainly in the winter when pedestrians have to walk in the street,” stated the report. “In addition, some of these streets do not meet the minimum widths required (by the province) to be considered as two-way roads.”

Last year, based on results of the consultant review, Victoria Street and Garneau Street were both redesignated for one-way traffic only.

Based on the traffic review study, the report recommended that the section of Notre-Dame Street between the Laurier Street and Tanya Street intersections become a one-way street only for southbound traffic. The report also recommended removing the stop signs on the Notre-Dame Street side of the Alma Street and Gilles Street intersections. The stop signs on the Alma Street and Gilles Street side of the intersections would remain.

Public notice needed

Ward 3 Councillor Carl Grimard noted that the city needs to do a public information campaign about the proposed change of Notre-Dame Street to one-way traffic so that neighbourhood residents, and the general population of Clarence-Rockland, are aware of the situation. He suggested the awareness campaign should take place for a period of two months before the change.

Council agreed with Grimard’s suggestion and voted to defer making Notre-Dame Street a one-way traffic only route until a public information campaign has taken place. Council did approve removal of the stop signs on the corner of Notre-Dame Street at the Alma Street and Gilles Street intersections.