Construction has finally begun at the Cox Creek intersection.

CONSTRUCTION HAS BEGUN - THANK YOU
First, I want to take a moment to celebrate that construction on the long-awaited roundabout at the Cox Creek intersection has finally begun.

As part of that construction, Wellington Road 22 and Nichol 8 have now been closed at Highway 6, and southbound Highway 6 has been reduced from two lanes to one through the work zone. Since these construction-related traffic changes began, there have been no reported collisions that I'm aware of at the intersection. While many factors influence collisions, it is encouraging to see how changes to traffic operations can improve safety.

Last year, over Hillside Festival weekend, three collisions occurred at this intersection within approximately 24 hours. This year, during the same weekend, there were no reported collisions. While one weekend doesn't tell the whole story, it is encouraging to see how these changes have made travel through the valley feel safer for both local residents and visitors travelling between Guelph and Wellington County.

Most importantly, I want to thank the more than 6,000 people who signed this petition, shared their stories, contacted elected officials, spoke with the media, and helped keep attention on this intersection. Every signature helped ensure this issue remained visible.

WHAT WE CALLED FOR — AND WHY
From the beginning, this petition asked for two different types of action:

• A permanent solution to address the intersection for generations to come.
• Interim operational safety measures that could be implemented much sooner while everyone continued using the intersection every day.

Those requests were always intended to work together.

No one expected a roundabout to appear overnight. Projects of this size take time. That is precisely why this petition placed such an emphasis on interim measures that could reduce risk while the permanent solution was being designed and built.

The changes now in place during construction demonstrate an important principle: changes to how traffic moves through an intersection can improve safety. That was the thinking behind many of the interim operational measures requested throughout this campaign.

Recently, the Ministry of Transportation shared a list of safety improvements that had been implemented over time. Every improvement is welcome. Most of the measures identified had already been installed before this petition was launched (and did not seem to reduce collisions), while others have been introduced as part of the current construction project. The distinction is important because this petition focused on additional operational safety measures that could have been implemented while the intersection remained fully open and before construction was able to begin.

Unfortunately, while the community waited for construction to start, serious collisions continued to occur, including two separate rollover collisions on May 18 and May 19, 2026. Those incidents reinforced why so many residents believed interim action was just as important as the long-term solution.

LOOKING BACK
Among the practical interim measures requested through this petition were:

• Electronic speed feedback signs
• Rumble strips on the east-west approaches
• Left-turn-only lane designation and clearer pavement markings on Highway 6
• Reduced speeds approaching the valley
• Enhanced enforcement
• GPS routing coordination with navigation providers
• Temporary traffic restrictions, where appropriate, until construction could begin

One positive outcome was increased OPP enforcement, including a speed study that found drivers were travelling significantly above the posted speed limit. That finding reinforced what many residents had observed for years and why this petition also called for speed feedback signs and reduced speeds approaching the valley.

Several of the other requested interim measures were not implemented before construction began. That does not diminish the value of the permanent roundabout now being built, but it does highlight an important lesson: operational safety improvements deserve careful consideration while communities wait for long-term infrastructure projects to move forward.

This petition has never been about criticism for the sake of criticism. It has always been about asking a simple question: if practical steps are available that could reduce the risk of another serious collision while a permanent solution is still months or years away, should they be considered?

I hope what our community has experienced—and learned—helps inform how other high-risk intersections across Ontario are managed in the future.

For now, though, this is a moment to celebrate.

Construction is underway. The long-awaited roundabout is becoming a reality. And for the first time in a long time, many of us are driving through the Cox Creek valley with a little more peace of mind.

Thank you again to everyone who stood behind this campaign. Together, you helped ensure this intersection could no longer be ignored.