'A harrowing experience': Millgrove residents want changes at Highway 6 intersection

Millgrove and area residents are calling on the Ministry of Transportation to make the intersection of Highway 6, Millgrove Side Road and 6th Concession East safer.

Caitlin Linseman and her husband Jeff have lived on Millgrove Side Road for more than 16 years and said they have a birds-eye view of the intersection.

It's almost like playing Russian roulette at that light," Caitlin said. It's really bad.

We're the only four-way intersection that doesn't have an advanced green (on Highway 6)."

Jeff said there were previously discussions about moving the light to 5th Concession West, which they feel would help solve the issues. In 2018, residents had a community meeting and resolved to ask the ministry to cul-de-sac Millgrove Side Road at Highway 6 and move the traffic light to 5th Concession West.

Absolutely nothing has been done," Jeff said.

Colin Somers, who runs the Village of Millgrove Facebook page, has always known Highway 6 as the killer highway." The Millgrove Side Road intersection in particular, has been bad in recent years.

He said there have been a number of concerns raised in the group, which has 900 members, about the intersection - not to mention the speedway" that is Millgrove Side Road. Somers said he thinks a public meeting would be a great way to raise their concerns.

Flamborough-Glanbrook MPP Donna Skelly said she is aware of the concerns around the intersection and the highway in general, but said the ultimate decision falls to the ministry.

Being a former journalist and having attended funerals of people who have been killed on that road, I understand more than anybody how dangerous Highway 6 is and I've raised it many, many times," she said.

Skelly added if the community is interested in any sort of public meeting, she would suggest MTO representatives attend and explain what can be done.

The Ministry of Transportation said in an email it will review the collision history and traffic operations to identify potential opportunities for modifications to existing traffic control signals at the Highway 6 and (Millgrove Side Road and) Concession Road 6 East intersection."

Skelly said her understanding was the ministry declined the previous proposal, indicating the 5th Concession West intersection was too close to the traffic signal at Millgrove Side Road. However, she said her office has reached out to the ministry for an update.

The ultimate solution for Highway 6 is to have dedicated on- and off-ramps - but that's so far down the road, if ever," she said. "In the interim whatever we can do to keep it safe, we will."

Jamie McRae Moore said she can't even count how many collisions have taken place at the intersection over the nine years she has lived in Millgrove.

She said her daughter is turning 16 and will start driving soon, which makes her and her husband nervous.

Trucks fly through there all the time when it's a red light."

She said an advanced green light to turn left onto Millgrove Side Road would help the situation, as would making the light stay red for longer or flashing light to indicate the light will change - but she's not sure how much safer it can be made.

That intersection is sketchy," she said, adding she drives through it every day. I'm double and triple-checking before I drive through - especially when I drive my kids to school."

While Flamborough-Glanbrook MP Dan Muys and Ward 15 Coun. Ted McMeekin stressed the highway is provincial jurisdiction, both said they share residents' concerns and would advocate to make the intersection safer.

While this isn't a matter of federal jurisdiction, this is an ongoing problem and I support the residents' efforts to advocate to the provincial government," said Muys, noting turning from or onto the highway can be "a harrowing experience."

For his part, McMeekin said he would be open to hearing specific safety suggestions for the intersection and would support and advocate for residents holding a public meeting.

However, Charlie Hyatt, who has lived near the intersection on Highway 6 for years, said he feels speed is the real issue - adding a lack of police patrols has exacerbated the issue.

It's the highways between two highways, between the 403 and the 401, so (drivers) think this is the highway," he said. (Police) have to be there more often.

If they have to put more stop lights, they have to - but they've got to slow the people down."

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: After seeing social media posts about concerns with the Millgrove Side Road and Highway 6 intersection - and previously covering similar concerns several years ago - the Review wanted to find out the current concerns and possible solutions.