Pilot Butte residents want immediate action at dangerous intersection

Regina – A group of concerned citizens from the Pilot Butte area held a vigil for those who have died on Highway 1.

Since 2005, 15 people have died on the road between Regina and Balgonie.

Vigil members are pushing for the ministry of highways to install traffic lights on Highway 1 at the west intersection.

That’s where Wanda Campbell’s son died in 2013. Campbell wants change now instead of waiting for the bypass to be built.

“Bypasses are coming, but they’re not coming anytime soon,” said Campbell. “It’s going to be at least another four years for this one. Something needs to be done now. This traffic needs to be slowed down. It needs to stop. It needs to be less confusing.”

One suggestion is putting a traffic light at the intersection. But, ministry of highways assistant deputy minister, Ron Gerbrandt, said traffic signals aren’t the answer.

“Statistically, if we put in a stop condition there would be about a 58 percent increase in rear-end collisions,” said Gerbrandt.

The intersection in question has yellow warning lights on the highway, and last year the province reduced the speed limit from 110 km/hr to 90 km/hr.