Montreal West mayor promises change at intersection residents claim is dangerous

Montreal West mayor Beny Masella found out firsthand Thursday why residents insist the intersection at Avon Road and Brock South Avenue is dangerous.

“I was just crossing the street now and a driver was trying to make a left-hand turn. He makes a stop, but keeps going to the point where I’m at his bumper,” Masella recounted.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I was just crossing the street now and a driver was trying to make a left-hand turn. He makes a stop, but keeps going to the point where I'm at his bumper," Masella recounted.

“He yells at me ‘try wearing something bright.'”

READ MORE: Montreal West teen hit by car; residents insist drivers ignore stop signs

Masella said the town has taken some measures to improve safety in the area: three streetlamps were installed in December and flashing pedestrian signs will be added in the coming days.

“We’ve hired a traffic engineer,” said Masella.

“Not just to look at this intersection, but at this whole area to see what more concrete measures need to be put in.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Not just to look at this intersection, but at this whole area to see what more concrete measures need to be put in."

Masella said he plans to meet the engineer on Jan. 18.

READ MORE: Residents argue Turcot traffic spilling into Montreal West, clogging small streets

Residents will also have the chance to voice their concerns.

On Tuesday, Global News reported the story of Chloe Desjardins, a 15-year-old pedestrian who said she was hit by a car at the Avon/Brock South intersection.

“In the spring, we said something needs to be done,” insisted Paul Desjardins, the teen’s father.

“It’s unfortunate that it takes an incident. Thank God it wasn’t a crazy tragedy for people to start to listen.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It's unfortunate that it takes an incident. Thank God it wasn't a crazy tragedy for people to start to listen."

Many residents are laying the blame on increased traffic because of construction on the Turcot Interchange.

READ MORE: Montreal West Interchange’s new closures cause commuter headaches

“It’s not a good intersection, there’s been more volume because of Turcot,” said Masella, as a jogger came over to ask him a question.

“You’re stuck though, because of all the construction. So, people just take this route,” said the runner.

READ MORE: Montreal West to get new traffic light

Masella insisted the new initiatives will lead to better safety and should reduce the risk of accidents involving pedestrians – “not withstanding the gentleman who almost hit me this morning,” he added.