Sarnia council has approved a permanent solution for the intersection of Errol and Indian Roads.
Staff have been directed to install traffic signals and permanent curb bump-outs at the intersection.
While the decision on traffic lights was unanimous, council was split on the bump-outs, narrowly passing the idea in a 5-4 recorded vote.
Councillor Bill Dennis agreed there was no perfect solution given the existing configuration and approach angles.
"I also note the staff comment that due to space constraints, a proper roundabout is not even possible here and, I quote, 'a poorly designed roundabout would still cost $1.5 million dollars,'" said Dennis.
He felt installing traffic lights only was the best solution.
"We just went through a somewhat controversial period related to putting in, and then removing, temporary bump-outs. I personally do not want to go through that again. My opinion is that bump-outs do not provide any more meaningful improvement to what traffic lights alone will bring and come with a $150,000 greater price tag."
Mayor Mike Bradley, and councillors Terry Burrell and George Vandenberg also voted against the bump-outs.
Councillor Brian White encouraged his colleagues to accept the recommendation from city engineers.
"Thankfully we've got the opportunity to make a permanent solution that will impact pedestrian safety in a very positive fashion, by slowing down traffic," said White. "There's just no reason for that end of Indian Road to have lanes as wide as they are and for cars to travel as quickly as they tend to in that space."
Engineering and Operations General Manager David Jackson recognized the controversy associated with the temporary bump-outs.
"A lot of that was aesthetics," Jackson said. "They're bright yellow concrete blocks and so that's something that's fully addressed by doing this permanently by using curbs and then making a nice boulevard there. The other was snow removal, which was a challenge. Even our own staff had concerns about that. They were challenging to work around."
The project is estimated to cost $450,000.
Meantime, council voted to reconsider future plans at Cathcart and Indian Roads.
Staff are now recommending a roundabout be installed there instead of traffic lights and council will discuss plans for that intersection again in the new year.