Flamborough residents welcome news of planned traffic circle on Highway 52

Copetown area residents say turning left onto Highway 52 from Powerline Road is “scary,” noting that two blind corners leading up to the intersection create significant hazards.

“It’s a busy road. You have Powerline Road coming. You also have the parking lot for people to have access to the rail trail,” said Ben Loewith of Summit Station Dairy. “Just right at that corner, there’s a lot of stuff all happening. And because it’s a curved road, a lot of times the line of sight is not as good as it could be.”

In March 2024, a couple in their 80s were killed in a two-vehicle crash near the intersection. The councillor for the area says making this stretch of road safer has been a priority for him.

“Turning left onto Powerline Road there has been identified as a significant safety issue,” said Coun. Craig Cassar. “As well as the crossing of the Hamilton and Brantford Radial Trail. So it’s really important that we’re making it safer for both people in vehicles and people on bikes, or walking.”

City council has approved an environmental assessment, which is the first step toward a roundabout being built at the intersection. Cassar said the current schedule is to start construction in 2028 and be completed in early 2029.

For years, residents have been advocating for the city to make the intersection safer, so news of a traffic circle being built is welcomed.

“It’s a very, very busy intersection, and I really do think that the roundabout will make it much safer for people,” said resident Linda Pulcins.

Loewith said his family has been advocating for traffic calming measures on Highway 52 for 20 years.

“We’re excited to see it move forward,” Loewith said. “It’s a really busy highway. There’s a fair amount of accidents and we’re kind of excited to see it moving forward.”

WATCH MORE: Driver, 22, dead after attempting to pass tractor trailer on Hwy. 8 in Hamilton