Residents of New London are calling for changes to the intersection of Grahams Road and Route 6, saying collisions occur there annually and that limited sightlines and high speeds make the junction dangerous, particularly during the summer tourist season.
Local concerns over visibility and speed
Those who live near the intersection — adjacent to the Lucy Maud Montgomery Birthplace — say drivers frequently pass through the junction at speed. Several residents want the province to consider installing a roundabout or making the junction a four-way stop to reduce vehicle speed and the number of near-misses.
"I think that intersection is very dangerous. People don't pay attention, and if they don't pay attention, they're going to have a problem," said John Irving, a New London resident. "If they stick a couple more stop signs there and slow people down and have them stop at the intersection rather than barrel through it [at] 70 kilometres an hour, it might help."
Residents told CBC News collisions happen every year at that spot and that summer traffic — when visitors unfamiliar with local roads increases — exacerbates the risk.
Province says current controls are appropriate
Provincial officials have reviewed the site and maintain that the intersection is operating within accepted standards, according to CBC. That stance has not satisfied local people who say lived experience at the junction suggests stronger measures are required.
The disagreement highlights a familiar challenge for rural P.E.I. communities: balancing engineering assessments and policy thresholds with residents' day-to-day safety concerns. In many cases, weather, seasonal traffic and roadside vegetation can change the character of a road more quickly than official reviews are scheduled to occur.
What residents want
Those pushing for change outlined relatively simple measures they believe would improve safety:
- Convert the junction to a roundabout to force lower speeds and reduce conflict points.
- Install a four-way stop to make drivers pause and assess cross traffic.
- Trim trees and brush that limit sightlines at the corners.
- Add clearer signage and road markings ahead of the intersection to warn approaching motorists.
| Problem | Suggested change |
|---|---|
| Poor sightlines due to trees and vegetation | Vegetation trimming and improved shoulder clearance |
| Drivers passing through at high speed | Roundabout or four-way stop, enhanced signage |
| Higher summer tourist traffic | Advance warning signage and road markings aimed at unfamiliar drivers |
Context and local impact
Rural intersections on Prince Edward Island often serve multiple purposes: they are routes for school buses, connectors to tourist sites such as the Lucy Maud Montgomery Birthplace, and daily thoroughfares for locals. Changes to these junctions can affect travel time, farm vehicle operations and winter maintenance priorities.
For residents of New London, safety is the immediate priority. Even relatively small engineering changes — a stop sign, a new lane marking, a trimmed sightline — can reduce conflict and give drivers more time to react. For tourists unfamiliar with local road geometry, clearer visual cues are especially important.
What happens next
Provincial road-safety teams generally assess locations using collision history, traffic volume data and engineering standards. Where thresholds are met, interventions such as traffic control devices or geometric changes may be implemented. When residents raise concerns, the province sometimes conducts site reviews or public-consultation exercises to gather more information.
Local residents say they want a prompt review and visible action before another collision occurs. Officials have acknowledged the concerns but thus far have signalled confidence in existing controls at the site.
Until a formal decision is announced, drivers in the area are being urged to take additional care when approaching the junction: reduce speed, yield appropriately, and watch for limited sightlines. Given the proximity to a popular cultural site, the intersection will likely continue to see a mix of familiar and unfamiliar drivers through the remainder of the tourist season.
WE NEWS will follow up on any provincial response or change in status for the intersection at Grahams Road and Route 6 and will report developments that could affect safety or travel for Islanders.
