Neighbours warn of near collisions and injury at busy London intersection
Residents said a London, Ont. intersection is confusing, poorly designed and dangerous — and they want immediate action to fix it.
They are concerned about the intersection of Queens Avenue and English Street.
It has been recently redesigned to accommodate bicycle lanes, but since then, it has been the site of several collisions.
Neighbours invited CTV News London to witness what they have seen.
“This is a confusing intersection. There’s a lot happening here,” said Greg Gilles, who lives on the southwest corner.
In one hour, three examples of near collisions involving cars and one pedestrian who dodged traffic after being confused by the crossing were observed.
The intersection of Queens Avenue and English Street in London, Ont., as seen on June 9, 2023. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London)
CTV News cameras also captured a car turning northbound from English Street strike a bicycle lane median on Queens Avenue. Moments before, a truck did the same.
Judging by tire tracks on the newly installed concrete, it is far from the first time.
Earlier, as Gilles was pleading for the city to do something to improve the design immediately, another incident occurred as CTV News cameras were rolling.
“It’s residential, it’s different once you cross Adelaide [Street],” he explained. “And, we think that requires us, to have things specific to safety.”
As Gilles finished that statement, a car crept out from English Street into Queens Avenue. Moments later, an SUV sounded its horn to avoid a potential collision.
“It’s happening all the time,” bemoaned Gilles.
London police investigate a crash at Queens Avenue and English Street in London, Ont. on May 29, 2023. (Daryl Newcombe/CTV News London)Evidence in CTV News London's archive supports his claim. At the end of last month, a person on a scooter was seriously hurt here, and Gilles said another crash occurred just days ago.
While the intersection is still awaiting some finishing touches from the city, including a bicycle traffic light, neighbours contend it will not be enough.
One of their areas of confusion is the crosswalk at the intersection. Gilles said its traffic light design needs to be modernized.
“That looks like a traffic light to me, not a crosswalk. There is no indication that is a crosswalk,” he said.
Another neighbour, Mike Robinson, wants the city to scrap the crosswalk and opt for traffic lights on all four corners.
“I know it’s the more expensive option, but it would be the more preferable option,” he said.
In the meantime, drivers who frequent the area are learning to be alert.
“You have to take it slow and keep looking both ways,” said one driver.
Neighbours who live near London, Ont.'s Queens Avenue and English Street say the newly redesigned intersection has turned out to be more dangerous than it was before. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London)CTV News London has reached out to both the City of London and Ward 4 Coun. Susan Stevenson for comment, but have yet to hear back from Stevenson.
A city spokesperson stated managers, with knowledge of the intersection project, were not available to speak on camera Friday. Later, the spokesperson issued a statement pointing to the two projects recently completed in the area.
It continued, “The City of London is not aware of any specific concerns at the intersection of Queens Avenue and English Street.”
The neighbours however contend otherwise, and in the interim, they worry the window to prevent tragedy is closing.
“It’s a matter of time before a kid gets hit in this intersection,” concluded Robinson.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
2 teens charged in Halifax homicide: police
Two teenagers have been charged with second-degree murder in connection to an alleged homicide near the Halifax Shopping Centre earlier this week.
'Deep ignorance': Calls for Manitoba trustee to resign sparked after comments about Indigenous people and reconciliation
A rural Manitoba school trustee is facing calls to resign over comments he made about Indigenous people and residential schools earlier this week.
ByteDance prefers TikTok shutdown in U.S. if legal options fail, Reuters sources say
TikTok owner ByteDance would prefer to shut down its loss-making app rather than sell it if the Chinese company exhausts all legal options to fight legislation to ban the platform from app stores in the U.S., four sources said.
12-year-old hippo in Japan raised as a male discovered to be a female
When Gen-chan arrived at a zoo in Japan in 2017, no one questioned whether the then-five-year-old hippopotamus was a boy. Seven years later, zoo staff made a surprising discovery: Gen-chan, now 12, was female.
Here's why Harvey Weinstein's New York rape conviction was tossed and what happens next
Here's what you need to know about why movie mogul Harvey Weinstein's rape conviction was thrown out and what happens next.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.
Legendary hockey broadcaster Bob Cole dies at 90: CBC
Bob Cole, a welcome voice for Canadian hockey fans for a half-century, has died at the age of 90. Cole died Wednesday night in St. John's, N.L., surrounded by his family, his daughter, Megan Cole, told the CBC.