As Saugeen Shores (Southampton and Port Elgin) continues to grow in population and as a tourist destination, traffic challenges are exacerbated. One of the intersections that has seen growing safety concerns is at Highway 21 and Bruce Rd. 13 (Turner Street – Foodland), which has become a critical junction for both local residents and seasonal visitors.
The intersection is indisputably one of the busiest, particularly during the summer tourist season. There are stop signs entering Hwy. 21 and dedicated left-turn lanes to exit Highway 21 and a posted speed limit of 50 km/h. In addition, the dedicated Bruce Road 13 left turn lane is one of the main arteries for vehicles exiting Hwy. 21 travelling to Sauble Beach and cottages. There is also Foodland grocer with an enter/exit on to Hwy. 21 and Turner Street, along with a busy restaurant corner.
Despite the stop signs, the dedicated turn lanes and the posted speed limit, the intersection has faced ongoing safety and operational challenges, particularly during peak travel seasons and has seen several collisions.
To address the challenges, the project being considered is to install a single-lane ’roundabout’ to improve traffic flow and safety. The final design is expected to be completed by the end of 2025, with construction scheduled to begin in 2026.
The provincial government recently announced that it is investing $3,000,000 to help the Town of Saugeen Shores resurface Albert Street, Railway Street and North Rankin Street (Highway 21) from South Street to Craig Street in Southampton, and an additional $1,350,000 to support improvements at the Highway 21 and Turner Street intersection.
This project is planned to proceed in coordination with the Southampton Highway 21 Resurfacing Project to ensure both initiatives complement each other and progress smoothly.
The Town will be hosting an in-person Public Information Centre (PIC) to share details of the proposed design and gather feedback from the community on November 6th at 5:30 p.m.at Southampton Town Hall.
