Across Prince Edward County, residents have grown increasingly frustrated by unsafe intersections where design flaws and planning delays have resulted in serious accidents. Rather than isolated incidents, these collisions reflect long-standing systemic issues—high-speed traffic, poor visibility, and inadequate short-term fixes. Despite public awareness and administrative acknowledgment, real action has remained out of reach. This article highlights the two most pressing intersection safety risks in the County and what should happen next.

What Needs to Happen Now

The intersection at County Road 1 and Highway 62 must be prioritized for immediate improvement. Even as planning for a roundabout continues, there is no reason not to install temporary stop signs or lights to reduce collision risk. At Picton’s Town Hill, a winter safety audit should be conducted to evaluate stop distances, driver visibility, and pedestrian routes. Crosswalk markings should be upgraded and signalized if necessary.

The County should consider launching a traffic safety dashboard to track incidents and monitor progress. Transparency can help align public expectation with political accountability. These are not difficult steps—but they require urgency and political will. Lives are at stake, and the longer these fixes are delayed, the higher the cost may become.

County Road 1 & Highway 62

This junction, north of Picton, has become synonymous with danger. Drivers familiar with the area speak of near-misses and confusion, especially during the high-traffic summer months. Over a five-year period, at least 25 collisions occurred here, 10 of which resulted in injury. Speeding, poor signage, and a misaligned layout contribute to a pattern of accidents that locals say could be addressed with common-sense steps. The County and OPP have acknowledged the issue and support a roundabout solution, but construction is delayed until at least 2026.

A more immediate interim step—installing stop signs on Highway 62 to create a four-way stop—has been raised repeatedly but not implemented. Similar provincial highways have used all-way stops or temporary traffic lights as stopgap measures, yet this simple fix remains ignored. With every delay, the risk to drivers and pedestrians remains, and residents are left wondering how many more collisions must occur before meaningful change is made.

Picton Town Hill Intersection

At the intersection atop Picton’s Town Hill, steep terrain and tight geometry create a dangerous mix—especially in winter. Drivers climbing or descending often overshoot stop lines or misjudge right-of-way. The intersection’s configuration, including faded road paint and unclear signage, leaves both drivers and pedestrians vulnerable. Its location in the heart of town adds to its urgency; foot traffic mixes with vehicles in unpredictable ways, and the lack of a proper pedestrian crosswalk across Main Street has long been noted.

Recent consultations on redesigns have created division. Questions over whether to install lights, roundabouts, or a hybrid solution remain unresolved. Yet the everyday hazard continues. Residents report close calls frequently, and calls to reconfigure the intersection into an all-way stop with better crosswalk markings remain unanswered.

Summary Table: Key Intersections in PEC

Intersection	Key Issue	Collisions	Media Coverage	Current Status
CR 1 & Hwy 62	High-speed, poor layout	25+ in 5 years	Extensive	Roundabout option in review.
Town Hill Intersection	Poor winter safety & visibility	Moderate	Moderate	Design in debate; interim fixes not applied

What We Know Now

From MTO project updates and County notices:

• A Class Environmental Assessment (EA) and Preliminary Design were completed by late 2024, with the recommended plan including a roundabout and posted for public comment from November 2024 to December 2024 Prince Edward County Municipal Services
• That formal public process is a regulatory requirement before design work can move forward.
• No public documentation currently states that construction will begin in 2026. That projected date appears to be speculation or an estimate—possibly from a conservative internal projection, but not confirmed in public records.