It took 14 years

St. James

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/08/2025 (264 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In 2011, a new Tim Hortons opened on the northeast corner of Ness Avenue and Mount Royal Road. The new location was designed to keep the drive-thru lineups off of Ness Avenue. The construction of a building on an open field created immediate traffic safety issues. The issue revolved around the need for two turning lights. One was for vehicles going eastbound on Ness wanting to access Tim’s. The other was for traffic on Ness turning from westbound onto Mount Royal.

On July 10, 2012, the Assiniboia community committee asked the public works committee to study the feasibility of turning lights at Ness and Mount Royal. Matthew McBurney made a submission to the Nov. 26, 2012, public works meeting. McBurney presented MPI statistics showing an increase in accidents. The public works committee turned down the request because it deemed there was not enough traffic. At the Nov. 14, 2012 meeting, area resident Peter Penman expressed disappointment in the public works committee decision.

Sarah Petz and Jennifer Dunsford wrote stories about the intersection in the Metro newspaper.

In 2014, the intersection was repaved but not redesigned.

On Dec. 2, 2014, the Assiniboia community committee once again requested that the public works committe look at the turning lights. On Jan. 14, 2015, the St. Bede and St. Stephens Anglican Church (then at 99 Turner Ave.) hosted a community meeting about the intersection. A couple of people in the audience had been involved in accidents at the corner. The church circulated a petition regarding the two turning lights. The petition was signed by 60 people including Eddie Ayoub, who later ran for city council in 2022.

On April 14, 2015, the public works committee delayed the report until certified MPI statistics became available. It was a strange decision, because some MPI statistics could be found in the public record for this very committee meeting. Finally, on Nov. 26, 2015 the public works committee said no to the turning lights. Despite the rejection, the turning light for eastbound Ness into Tim’s was installed in 2016 through the Traffic Engineering Improvements Program.

On May 7, 2019, the Assiniboia community committee requested another traffic study. On July 23, 2019 , Coun. Scott Gillingham hosted a forum attended by 41 people. The turning light for westbound Ness traffic turning onto Mount Royal still was not implemented.

During the 2022 city election campaign, candidate Kelly Ryback made Ness and Mount Royal an issue. On Nov. 26, 2023, Ryback created an online petition asking for a turning light for westbound Ness traffic turning south onto Mount Royal. The petition received 729 signatures. On Jan, 16, 2025, Ryback spoke at public works budget review meeting to ask the committee to include the turn signal in their budget. In July 2025, the turning signal for westbound ness traffic to turn south onto Mount Royal finally happened.

Several other safety suggestions for Ness and Mount Royal have been made including a red light camera, lowering the speed limits, no right turns on a red light, parking adjustments and moving the bus stop.

In my last column, I mentioned that the new Transit Plan has taken away Portage Avenue transit service from Downtown to the front door of the Assiniboine Clinic and Grace Hospital. A petition has been started to restore this service. The link is www.change.org/p/regular-transit-service-to-the-grace-hospital