Plenty of crashes at St. James intersection, but number not high enough for changes

Residents and people working in the area of a St. James intersection where dozens of collisions have occurred in recent years are hoping the city makes safety changes.

There have been 158 collisions at Ness Avenue and Ferry Road since 2021, statistics provided by Manitoba Public Insurance show.

Doug Nachbauer, manager of T-Mac Auto Services, located at the southeast corner of the intersection, said he has seen the aftermath of several collisions there.

“Since September the city has had to re-stand the traffic-light pole seven or eight times,” Nachbauer said Monday.

“There have been four accidents since the day before Christmas, and (that day) a young child had to go to hospital in rough shape. If that child’s car seat hadn’t been in the middle (of the back seat) they wouldn’t be alive today.

“It shouldn’t take a child or somebody getting killed at an intersection known to have collisions to get something changed.”

Nachbauer said putting a dedicated left-turn signal on westbound Ness — there is already one in place for eastbound traffic — would help, as would reducing the speed limit from 60 km/h to 50.

“I definitely would like to see something happen,” he said.

Katrina Robertson, who lives near the intersection, agrees another traffic turn signal would help.

“People need to slow down,” Robertson said.

“I wonder if (intersection photo) cameras would help? People tend to be more aware with them around.”

Kevin Ramberran, co-owner of the St. James Burger and Chip Co., who posted video from security cameras to social media showing three of the collisions, said the intersection is especially unsafe for pedestrians.

“I do understand the city probably has priorities,” Ramberran said. “The city says there are other intersections with higher rates of incidents so, if true, they need to do them before this one.

“All I know is what I see. The sooner people driver safer there the better it is for everyone.”

MPI spokeswoman Tara Seel said motorists should slow down and use turn signals.

“Be prepared for the unexpected,” she said in an email. “Ensure it is safe to turn left before doing so. Do not try to ‘make the light.’ A yellow light means slow down and prepare to stop and to clear the intersection.”

Careless driving was the cause of 41 of the 158 collisions at that location since 2021. Following too close was the cause of 32, the second-most frequent reason, followed by improper lane changes (15) and improper turns (14), the data shows.

MPI said the combined number of crashes at Ness and Ferry since 2021 puts that location in 138th place among more than 6,600 Winnipeg intersections. Worst is McPhillips Street and Leila Avenue, with 836 of the same period.

City spokesman Adam Campbell said in the last year crews have had to repair seven traffic-signal poles downed by collisions at Ness and Ferry.

Campbell said it costs about $5,000 to $10,000 to repair most, and more if underground work is required.

He said the city is able to get back about 70 per cent of the costs through insurance claims.

Campbell said the city continually reviews all intersections for safety risks.

“While we acknowledge there have been recent incidents at this intersection, it is not one of the highest-rated locations for collisions,” he said. “For that reason, we are not currently studying a redesign.”

Campbell said motorists need to “keep safety top of mind while out on the roads this winter, and always drive to conditions.”

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca