Cranbrook will be a little less in motion after city council agreed July 18 to a Cranbrook In Motion (CIM) Committee recommendation to make the junction of 2^nd Street and 7^th Avenue a four-way stop.

“Over the years there have been a number of accidents at that location,” said Coun. Jim Wavrecan, adding RCMP have noted increased speeds along 7^th Avenue.

While council agreed to have city staff place stop signs on 7^th Avenue, it wasn’t without some trepidation.

“I can see that being a complete nightmare, with people running that stop sign,” said Coun. Liz Schatschneider, who suggested that despite the increased cost, a traffic light may be a better solution.

Mayor Scott Manjak said there needs to be a strategy in place to warn drivers about the changes to traffic flow along the busy, straight-shot road. “I don’t question the validity of the need” as long as there is a strategy to warn drivers, he said.

Wavrecan said it would cost the city $800 to install stop signs as opposed to $145,000 “to light that intersection.”

Coun. Denise Pallesen, who sits on the CIM Committee with Wavrecan, told council that the RCMP intends “to be there with their radar guns” as well.

The stop signs are supposed to be in place by mid August.

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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