The City of Quebec is currently analyzing the possibility of installing traffic lights at the corner of rue Bernier and boulevard Henri-Bourassa, an intersection considered dangerous by local residents.
“It’s a real race track here. It’s really dangerous, there are accidents all the time,” laments Benoit Boucher, who lives very close to the intersection.
Just last week, a car rolled over after being hit by a second vehicle at this exact location. The collision occurred around 4:45 p.m. on 1is last October, and at least five individuals were involved.
Despite the violence of the impact, no one was seriously injured.
Photo Agence QMI, Marc Vallières
No one was seriously injured in this case, however, underlines Laurence Godbout, spokesperson for the Quebec City Police Service (SPVQ).
“It happens quite frequently. There is a lot of traffic in the area with the Canac and the butcher shop, and there is very little signage,” says Michel Dubé, another resident of the area.
Several complaints
According to the City of Quebec, eight collisions occurred at this intersection between 1is January 2019 and December 31, 2023. Five of them left eight people lightly injured.
But this data does not take into account collisions and other minor collisions which did not require the police to write an accident report.
Only a “Stop” sign is found on rue Bernier, which is the extension of an exit from the Laurentian highway, on either side of boulevard Henri-Bourassa. Around 3,500 vehicles circulate there daily.
Only a “STOP” sign is installed as signaling on either side of Boulevard Henri-Bourassa, on Rue Bernier.
Photo Agence QMI, Marc Vallières
“The City should install at least one light, it doesn’t make sense. And maybe even a photo radar, it would make a lot of money!” says Mr. Boucher.
Since 2019, nine reports submitted by citizens have been submitted regarding the intersection, six of which concerned the installation of a traffic light, confirms the City.
Analysis in progress
However, analyzes carried out as part of the 2020-2024 Road Safety Strategy have not established that this is an accident-prone sector.
“The safety analyzes carried out in 2016 and 2019 based on the technical parameters recommended by the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility did not justify the installation of a traffic light,” indicates Wendy Whittom. , spokesperson for the City of Quebec.
Residents would like there to be more signage in the area to improve their safety.
Photo Agence QMI, Marc Vallières
However, a new traffic flow survey was carried out last August and a technical analysis is underway to “validate the feasibility of installing traffic lights under the Hydro-Québec transmission line”.
“The relevance and feasibility [d’une telle mesure] will be confirmed by the end of the year,” says Mme Whittom.
The Bernier/Henri-Bourassa intersection in brief
- Eight collisions*
- Eight lightly injured*
- Nine reports made by citizens, including six on the installation of a traffic light*
- 3,500 cars pass through it daily
- Safety analysis of 2016: installation of a traffic light not justified
- Safety analysis of 2019: installation of a traffic light not justified
- 2024 Security Analysis: Pending Results
* between 1is January 2019 and December 31, 2023
Source: Quebec City
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